C283 
P86 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00042717710 


This  book  must  not 
be  taken  from  the 
Library  building. 


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COLLECTIONS 


A  PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL 
^istoricol   Society 

FOR      THE      YEAR 

1851. 

PUBLISHED     BY     ORDER     OF 

THE  EXECUTIVE   COMMITTEE 

OF     THE     SOCIETY. 


NEW    YORK: 
STANFORD     &     SWORDS,     PUBLISHERS 


1851. 


R.    CRAIGHEAD,   PRINTER    AND    STEREOTYPEK, 
112    FULTON    STREET. 


<L>0 


dbfta  nf  ilie  inmftj. 


$3resioent. 

The  Rt,  Rev.  T.  C.  BROWNELL,  D.D.  LL.D, 
The  Rev.  FRANCIS  L.  HAWKS,  D.D.  LL.D, 

BttttiavQ- 

The  Rev.  B.  FRANKLIN. 

treasurer. 

FREDERICK  S.  WINSTON,  Esq.,  60  Cedar  street,  New  York, 


Qfe-ecntbe  Committee. 

The  Rev.  WM.  BACON  STEVENS,  D.D.,  Perm, 

«  «      PHILIP  SLAUGHTER,  Virginia. 

«  "       A.  B.  PATERSON,  N.  Jersey. 

«  "       J.  H.  H03ART,  N.  York. 

"  «       W.  I.  KIP,  D.D.,  N.  York. 

"  "       T.  W.  COIT,  D.D.,  Conn. 

«  «       T.  C.  PITKIN,  Conn. 

Mr.  JOHN  ALEXANDER,  Md. 

«  SAMUEL  H.  HUNTINGDON,  Conn, 

»  ROBERT  BOLTON,  Jun.,  N.  Y, 

«  G.  M.  WHARTON,  Penn. 

»  E.  A.  NEWTON,  Mass. 

«  G.  L.  DUYCKINCK,  N.  Y. 


> 
*) 


JV  LIST    OF    OFFICERS. 

(fTorresponbiug  Members. 

Mr.  R.  H.  Gardiner,  Gardiner,  Maine. 

Rev.  Charles  Burroughs,  D.D.,  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

»  Joel  Clafp,  D.D.,  Bellows  Falls  Vt. 

"  J.  A.  Hicks.  D.D.,  Rutland, 

"  Samuel  B.  Baecock,  Dedham,  Mnss. 

"  J.  H.  Eaihes,  Providence,  R.  I. 

"  N.  S.  Richardson,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

"  Alfred  Stubbs,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

"  S.  C.  Brinckle,  New  Castle,  Del. 

"  W.  D.  Wilson,  D.D.,  Geneva,  W.  N.  Y. 

"  F.  H.  Cuming,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 

"  C.  W.  Fitch,  Piqua,  Ohio. 

"  Mr.  J.  M.  Moore,  Madison,  111. 

"  Samuel  Chase,  D-.D.,  Robin's  Nest,  111. 

"  Benj.  Akerly,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

"  S.  Davis,  Green  Bay,  " 

"  Alfred  Louderback,  Davenport,  Iowa. 

"  E.  G.  Gear,  Fort  Snelling,  Minn. 

"  F.  J.  Clerc,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

"  William  Vaux,  Fort  Laramie. 

"  J.  N.  Norton,  Frankfort,  Ky. 

"  Charles  Tomes,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

"  W.  C.  Stout,  Fayetteville,  Ark. 

"  Charles  Gillette,  Houston,  Texas. 

Mr.  George  S.  Yerger,  Vicksburgh,  Miss. 
Col.  Isaac  Croom,  Greensborough,  Ala. 
Rev.  C.  Hanckel,  D.D.,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

«  C.  Wallace,  "  " 

"  T.  J.  Young,  " 

"  J.  A.  Sheppard,  Scuppernong,  N.  C. 

The  corresponding  members  are  agents  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical 
Society  in  their  several  dioceses.  Where  no  corresponding  member  is  elected 
the  member  or  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  in  that  diocese  performs 
the  duties. 

Direct  Church  papers,  donations  of  books,  pamphlets,  manuscripts,  &c,  to  the 
Rev.  Benj.  Franklin,  Philadelphia.  Subscriptions  and  moneys  to  F.  S.  Winston, 
Esq.,  Treasurer,  60  Cedar  street,  N.  Y. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


Preface, 

Keith  and  Talbot.     Keith's  Letters  and  Journal, 

Talbot's  Letters, 

Early  History  of  the  Church  at  Burlington,  by  Bass, 

Non-Juring  Episcopate  in  the  United  States,      . 

State  of  the  Church  A.D.  1730-40  ;    being  a  Communication  from  Dr. 

Bray,  Commissary  of  Maryland,   . 
List  of  Persons  licensed  to  the  Plantations  by  the  Bishops  of  London,  from 

the  year  1745  inclusive, 
List  of  the  several  Parishes  where  Divine  Service  was  performed  in  the 

year  1724,  according  to  the  Rules  of  the  Church  of  England, 

Mr.  Whitfield,  concerning  the  Missionaries, 

Efforts  to  obtain  the  Episcopate  before  the  Revolution,      . 

Thoughts  upon  the  Present  State  [1764]  of  the  Church  of  England  in 

America, 

Letter  from  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  to  Dr.  W, 

nia,  1766, 

Virginia  Memorial,  touching  the  Glebes,     . 

Address  on  the  Sale  of  the  Glebes,  1795, 

Letter  of  Mr.  Henderson  Walker  to  the  Bishop  of  London  (1703) 

Account  of  Mr.  Blair's  Mission  to  North  Carolina  (1703), . 


Smith  of  Pennsylva 


Page 

vii 

1 

55 

67 

87 

99 

107 

121 
129 
136 

158 

165 
166 
174 
182 
184 


PREFACE 


Tfie  Executive  Committee  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Society  have, 
at  length,  the  pleasure  of  presenting  to  its  members  the  first  volume  of  its  col- 
lections. 

That  it  has  not  sooner  appeared  is  less  the  fault  of  the  Committee  than  of  some 
of  the  members  of  the  Society.  The  former  adopted  as  a  rule,  to  which  they 
have  inflexibly  adhered,  to  contract  no  debt  which  they  had  not  the  means  of 
paying  at  any  moment  when  it  might  be  demanded.  Hence  they  were  unwilling 
to  print  until  they  had  funds  in  hand  to  pay  for  the  work.  Some  of  the  members, 
from  inattention,  delayed  their  payments  for  a  time,  and  the  Committee  waited 
to  receive  them.  The  volume  is  as  large  as  their  means  enabled  them  to 
make  it. 

The  Committee  indulge  the  hope  that  it  will  not,  in  its  contents,  disappoint  the 
reasonable  expectations  of  the  Society.  It  will  be  found  to  present  the  record 
of  past  events  only  ;  interesting,  as  they  hope  and  believe,  to  all  the  members  of 
the  Church  alike.  It  is  made  up  of  the  early  documents  themselves,  with  but 
two  exceptions.  Those  two  consist  merely  of  a  condensed  summary  of  the  facts 
connected  with  two  past  events  of  historical  interest  to  churchmen  (occurring  in 
colonial  times),  chronologically  arranged,  and  embodying  the  substance  of  many 
scattered  documents.  These  two  were  prepared  by  two  members  of  the  publishing 
Committee.  Nearly  the  whole  of  the  book  consists  of  that  which  has  never 
before  been  published,  and  a  part  of  it  presents  probably  the  best  history  extant 
of  the  earliest  labors  in  America  of  the  venerable  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel. 

The  book  will  afford  to  the  members  of  the  Church  a  specimen  of  the  general 
nature  of  the  materials,  which  (should  the  Society  be  sustained)  will  compose  the 
future  volumes  of  the  series.  The  materials  at  the  disposal  of  the  Committee  are 
abundant  enough  for  many  such  volumes  as  this;  and  some  of  them  are  of  deep 
interest,  and  indeed  importance  to  the  Church.  To  Churchmen,  therefore,  we 
must  look  for  support.  The  historical  student  or  antiquary  who  is  not  a  church- 
man, may  here  and  there  be  found  to  attach  a  value  to  such  a  publication  as  ours ; 
but  the  number  of  such  is  not  large,  and,  therefore,  our  support  must  be  derived 
from  Protestant  Episcopalians,  alive  to  the  importance  of  preserving  the  documen- 


PREFACE. 


tary  history  of  their  portion  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  Our  subscription  list  of 
members  is  at  present  small ;  it  consists  of  but  little  more  than  three  hundred 
names;  but  among  those  are  to  be  found  that  of  every  bishop,  as  well  as  those  of 
many  of  the  oldest  and  most  influential  clergy.  Had  the  Society  some  twelve  or 
fifteen  hundred  members,  the  Committee  would  pledge  themselves  to  publish 
annually  four  volumes  like  the  present,  to  a  copy  of  which  each  member  would 
be  entitled  by  virtue  of  his  annual  payment  of  two  dollars. 

The  present  members  of  the  Society  are,  for  the  most  part,  derived  from  the 
ranks  of  the  clergy.  The  laity  have  not  yet  had  their  attention  drawn  to  the 
subject;  and,  in  fact,  most  of  them  are  probably  ignorant  of  the  existence  of  the 
Society.  The  Executive  Committee  would,  therefore,  respectfully  solicit  the 
co-operation  of  the  conductors  of  Church  periodicals,  in  making  known  to  the 
laity  the  plans  and  purposes  of  the  Society;  and  would  ask  also  for  the  efficient 
aid  of  our  numerous  parochial  clergy,  in  causing  the  Society  to  be  known  in  their 
respective  congregations.  If  each  clergyman  would  procure  but  a  few  lay 
members,  the  Society  might  pursue  its  work  on  a  larger  scale,  and  more  than 
repay  to  every  member  the  amount  of  his  annual  subscription. 

The  Committee  deem  it  proper  to  say  that  the  management  of  the  affairs  of  the 
Society  costs  nothing.  It  has  no  paid  agent,  and  the  services  of  every  officer  are 
gratuitously  rendered. 

It  only  remains  to  add  that  the  following  gentlemen  compose  the  Publishing 
Committee  who  have  prepared  the  present  volume : 


Rev.  F.  L.  Hawks,  D.D.,  LL.D. 
Rev.  Wm.  B.  Stevens,  D.D. 
Rev.  W.  I.  Kip,  D.D. 


Rev.  Benj.  Franklin. 
Robert  Bolton,  Jr. 
Geo.  L.  Duyckinck. 


KEITH    AND   TALBOT, 


The  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  was 
established  in  England,  by  charter,  bearing  date  the  16th  day  of  June,  1701. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  Society  was  to  send  to  the  English  Colonies  on 
this  continent  a  missionary  to  make  personal  examination,  by  travelling  over 
the  then  several  governments  of  British  America  that  now  constitute  a  part 
of  the  United  States. 

The  individual  selected  was  the  Rev.  George  Keith,  whose  Journal  is  here- 
after presented,  and  of  whom  a  slight  sketch  will  form  a  suitable  introduction 
to  the  record  of  his  labors. 

George  Keith  was  born  at  Aberdeen,  in  Scotland ;  not,  however,  of  Quaker 
parents  At  what  time  he  became  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  we  have 
not  been  able  to  discover.  He  was  possessed  of  learning,  having  been  very  well 
educated,  and  his  talents  were  of  a  high  order.  His  mind  was  acute  and 
logical,  and  his  temper  fearless.  In  truth,  the  greatest  defects  in  his  character 
resulted  from  the  indulgence  of  his  temper.  He  was  irritable  and  overbearing 
at  times,  and  his  language  was  not  always  regulated  by  Christian  gentleness. 
He  was,  however,  we  think,  honest  in  avowing  and  following  the  convictions 
of  his  understanding,  but  we  fear  he  can  scarcely  be  said  to  have  been  an 
amiable  man,  inasmuch  as  he  frequently  appears  to  have  courted  rather  than 
shunned  controversy. 

The  first  account  we  have  of  his  appearing  in  this  country,  places  him  in 
East  Jersey  in  1682.  He  was  then  a  Quaker  and  held  the  office  of  surveyor 
general,  "in  1689  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  on  the  invitation  of  some 
wealthy  families,  who  desired  him  to  become  tutor  to  their  children.  He 
discharged  the  duties  of  this  situation  faithfully  and  skilfully.  He  also  (as  old 
Gerard&Croese  informs  us)  "  at  the  same  time  exercising  his  preaching  faculty 
among  an  unlearned  and  ignorant  company  of  people,  as  for  the  most  part 
their  preachers  were,  excelled  them  all,  appearing  as  a  bright  luminary,  and 
outshining  all  the  rest  of  that  order  among  them ;  and  by  his  opportune 
diligence  and  industry  in  all  the  parts  of  his  ministerial  office,  he  rendered 
himself  beloved  of  them  all,  especially  the  more  inferior  sort  of  people. 


x  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical   Collections. 

Keith  became  a  writer  as  early  as  the  year  1665.  His  first  productions 
were  all  in  favor  of  the  Quakers.  His  zeal  led  him  with  a  fearless  spirit  to 
cast  himself  into  the  very  midst  of  those  among  whom  he  well  knew  Quaker- 
ism had  reaped  what  it  deemed  a  glorious  martyrdom.  He  here  boldly 
threw  down  the  gauntlet,  and  challenged  to  theological  combat  the  chosen 
champions  of  Puritanism.  He  thus  commenced  his  "  Solemn  call  and  warning 
from  the  Lord  to  the  people  of  New  England  to  repent." 

"  The  burden  of  the  word  of  the  Lord  that  came  unto  me  on  the  twenty- 
first  day  of  the  fourth  month,  1688,  in  the  town  of  Boston,  in  New  England, 
to  declare  it  unto  Boston  and  its  inhabitants,  and  to  the  inhabitants  of  New 
England,"  &c.  A  copy  of  this  he  posted  in  the  most  conspicuous  place  in  the 
town,  and  followed  it  by  a  letter  addressed  to  "  James  Allen,  Joshua  Moody, 
Samuel  Willard,  Cotton  Mather,  called  preachers  in  Boston." 

In  this  he  charged  them  with  preaching  false  doctrine,  and  challenged  them 
to  public  disputation.  Their  answer  is  characteristic  of  men  who  felt  their 
power,  and  at  the  same  time  resented  the  insult  offered  to  their  dignity. 

"  Having  received  a  blasphemous  and  heretical  paper,  subscribed  by  one 
George  Keith,  our  answer  to  it  and  him  is,  if  he  desires  conference  to  instruct 
us,  let  him  give  us  his  arguments  in  writing,  as  well  as  his  assertions ;  if  to 
inform  himself,  let  him  write  his  doubts  ;  if  to  cavil  and  disturb  the  peace  of 
our  churches  (which  we  have  cause  to  suspect)  we  have  neither  list  nor  leisure 
to  attend  his  motions ;  if  he  would  have  a  public  audience,  let  him  print ;  if 
a  private  discourse,  though  he  may  know  where  we  dwell,  yet  we  forget  not 
what  the  apostle  John  saith,  Epis.  2,  10th  verse."* 

To  this  Keith  was  not  backward  in  preparing  a  reply  in  the  shape  of 
another  letter  more  severe  than  the  first,  and  as  if  the  present  controversy 
were  not  enough,  he  turns  to  the  past  and  evokes  new  elements  of  contention 
in  "  a  brief  answer  to  some  gross  abuses,  lies,  and  slanders,  published  some 
years  ago  by  Increase  Mather,  late  teacher  of  a  church  at  Boston,  in  New 
England,  in  his  book  called,  An  essay  for  the  recording  of  illustrious  provi- 
dences, -&c,  and  by  Nath.  Morton  in  his  book  called  New  England's 
.  Memorial." 

In  1691  Keith  was  again  in  Pennsylvania,  and  now  commenced  his  dispute 
with  the  Quakers,  which  ended  in  his  separation  from  them,  after  having  been 
a  preacher  among  them  for  twenty-eight  years.  The  Quaker  writers  charge 
him  with  ambition  and  desire  to  assume  undue  authority,  under  a  mistaken 
impression  of  his  own  influence.  It  is,  however,  but  just  to  Keith  to  say,  that 
he    denied    this,   and   charged   his    adversaries  with    a  departure  from  the 

*  "  If  there  come  any  unto  you,  and  bring  not  this  doctrine,  receive  him  not  into  your 
house,  neither  bid. him  God  speed." 


Keith  and  Talbot  xi 

original  doctrines  held  by  the  society.  Without  entering  into  the  particulars 
of  tire  controversy,  suffice  it  to  say  that  twenty-eight  leading  members  issued 
against  him  what  they  called  "  A  testimony  of  disownment,"  in  1692.  Keith 
repaid  this  with  a  similar  testimony  against  the  twenty-eight,  signed  by 
himself  and  a  "considerable  party,"  including  "some  wealthy  and  influential 
members  of  the  society,"  who  adhered  to  him.  Keith  and  his  friends  were 
called  Christian  Quakers ;  he  charged  his  opponents  with  Deism. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1694,  he  went  to  England  and  was  there  admitted  to  holy 
orders  in  the  established  church. 

In  April,  1702,  he  sailed  for  America  on  a  mission  of  observation,  and  the 
Journal  which  follows  commences  with  this  voyage.  In  August,  1704,  he 
reached  England  and  became  rector  of  Edburton,  in  Sussex,  where  he  ended 

his  days. 

The  authorities  for  the  above  sketeh  are  General  History  of  the  Quakers,  by 
Gerard  Croese,  Proud's  Pennsylvania,  Keith's  churches  in  New  England 
brought  to  the  test,  Keith's  Journal,  Allen's  Biographical  Dictionary,  Gordon's 
Pennsylvania,  Review  of  Bishop  Doane's  Sermon  at  the  Consecration  of 
St.  Mary's  Church,  Burlington,  December  23d,  1834. 

As  a'suitable  introduction  to  the  official  report  by  Mr.  Keith,  contained  in 
his  "  Journal,"  the  publishing  committee  have  prefixed  thereto  several  docu- 
ments hitherto  unpublished,  and  consisting  principally  of  letters  written  by 
Mr.  Keith  and  his  companion,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Talbot,  furnishing  a  very  full 
account  of  the  general  aspect  of  the  colonies  in  a  religious  point  of  view,  and 
together  with  the  detailed  report  in  the  "  Journal  "  itself,  affording  probably 
the  most  complete  picture  that  can  now  be  obtained  of  the  precise  condition 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  America  when  the  venerable  society 
here  commenced  its  labors. 


The  following  letter  it  is  supposed  gave  rise  to  the  measures  which  ended 
in  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Keith  as  the  first  missionary  of  the  Society  to 
America. 

A  Letter  from  Mr.  George  Keith  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Venerable  Society 
about  the  State  of  Quakerism  in  North  America. 

"  Worthy  Sir  : —  .  ,.  . .     ,     ,  , ,         •  , 

"  \ccording  to  your  desire  I  send  you  this  short  Memorial 

of  the  State  of  Religion  in  such  parte  of  North  America  where   I  have 

travelled,  and  which  I  can  give  of  my  own  knowledge,  especial  y  in  relation 

to  Quakerism  and  some  other  things  by  letters  from  my  friends  there. 


xii  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

"  In  Pennsylvania,  when  I  came  to  live  there,  which,  was  in  the  year  1689, 
by  the  number  of  men  and  women  that  used  to  come  to  the  yearly  meetings 
from  the  several  parts  of  that  province,  and  from  the  West  and  East  Jerseys, 
we  did  commonly  reckon  there  might  be  at  least  fifteen  hundred  Quakers, 
two  hundred  of  which  might  perhaps  belong  to  the  West  and  East  Jerseys. 

"After  the  breach  that  began  in  the  year  1691,  betwixt  a  party  of  Quakers 
that  joined  with  me  in  opposing  some  of  their  errors  (especially  their  notion 
of  the  sufficiency  of  the  light  within  every  man  to  salvation  without  anything 
else)  and  another  Party  that  joyned  with  Thomas  Lloyd  then  Deputy  Gover- 
nor of  Pennsylvania  and  a  great  Preacher  among  the  Quakers,  all  the 
Meetings  in  those  Provinces  abovementioned  were  broken,  and  they  set  up 
Separate  Meetings  one  from  another,  on  the  account  of  different  Principles  of 
Religion  (especially  in  relation  to  the  notion  aforesaid  of  the  Sufficiency  of  the 
light  within,  without  any  thing  else,  which  I  and  my  Friends  judged  a  plain 
opposition  to  Christianity,  and  an  Establishing  of  Deism  in  its  place)  so  that 
when  I  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  England,  which  was  in  the  year  1694,  I 
left  behind  me  fourteen  or  fifteen  Meetings  in  Pennsylvania,  West  and  East 
Jerseys,  that  met  apart  from  the  Quakers  (on  the  account  of  their  opposition 
to  their  Errors)  to  the  number  of  above  Five  hundred  persons. 

"  Since  there  hath  been  a  Church  of  England  Congregation  set  up  at 
Philadelphia,  the  Chief  Town  in  Pennsylvania,  a  considerable  number  of  those 
that  did  come  off  with  me  on  the  account  of  the  Quakers  Errors  are  joyned 
with  the  Church  of  England,  both  Men  and  Women  of  good  account,  and 
others  of  them  keep  up  their  Separate  Meetings,  particularly  one  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  some  of  them  have  joyned  themselves  with  the  Anabaptists  in 
those  Parts,  as  I  have  had  particular  Information  by  letters  from  my  friends 
there,  year  after  year. 

"  It  would  be  of  great  service,  as  I  judge,  if  one  or  two  more  Church  of 
England  Ministers  were  sent  to  Pennsylvania ;  it  is  not  to  be  doubted,  but  they 
would  not  only  get  hearers,  but  such  as  would  join  with  them  to  make  up 
Congregations,  one  whereof  might  be  at  New  Castle,  which  is  forty  miles 
below  Philadelphia,  by  the  River  Delaware,  the  other  at  the  Falls  by  the  same 
River,  about  thirty  miles  above  it. 

"  In  West  Jersey  that  lyes  on  the  east  side  of  Delaware  River,  I  have 
several  friends  that  joyned  with  me  in  the  Separation  from  the  Quakers, 
especially  about  Croswicks,  which  is  about  Fifteen  or  Sixteen  miles  from 
Burlington  (the  chief  Town  in  West  Jersey  lying  by  Delaware  River) ;  if  a 
Church  of  England  Minister  were  sent  thither  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  but  he 
would  be  received  and  joyned  with,  both  by  some  of  my  friends  and  some 
other  sober  persons.  The  most  proper  place  to  set  up  a  Church  would  be 
at  Burlington,  and  another  at  Croswicks  abovementioned. 

"  In  East  Jersey  I  have  several  friends  that  came  off  with  me  in  the 
Separation  from  the  Quakers,  and  so  continue,  and  as  I  have  been  informed 
by  a  worthy  gentleman,  Colonel  Morris,  formerly  my  scholar,  who  has  a 
family  and  a  good  estate  in  that  Province,  and  is  now  in  London,  (being  lately 
come  from  East  Jersey,  who  knows  my  friends  there)  they  are  well  prepared 
to  receive  a  Church  of  England  Minister  among  them,  and  it  is  not  to  be 
doubted  but  he  would  have  several  other  persons  to  joyn  with  him  to  set  up 
a  Church  Congregation ;  the  fittest  places  to  set  up  a  Church  Congregation 


Keith  and  Talbot.  xu 

are  Amboy  and  the  Falls  in  Shrewsbury,  near  where  Colonel  Morris  has  his 
house  and  estate,  for  though  Araboy  has  few  Inhabitants,  yet  People  would 
come  to  it  from  Woodbridge  and  other  places  thereabouts. 

"  The  people  of  East  Jersey  who  are  not  Quakers,  are  generally  Indepen- 
dents, having  originally  come  from  New  England,  but  the  young  generation 
might  easily  be  brought  off  to  the  Church,  if  they  have  any  Church  set  up 

^Efst  Jersey  has  six  or  seven  considerable  Towns  in  it,  as  Shrewsbury, 
Middletown,  Woodbridge,  Piscataway,  Elizabeth  and  Newark  Town;  the 
Inhabitants,  generally  all  English  that  came  ongmally  from  New  England, 
about  Thirty  years  ago;  and  Bergen,  inhabited  generally  with  Dutch,  all 
Calvinists  who  have  a  Dutch  Minister. 

"There  is  not  one  Church  of  England  as  yet  in  either  West  or  East  Jeisey 
the  more  is  the  pity;  and  except  in  Two  or  Three  Towns  there  is  no  face  of 
any  public  worship  of  any  sort,  but  People  live  very  mean  like  Indians^  In 
New  York  there  are  but  few  Quakers,  and  some  that  were  are  come  off  and 

ioyned  with  the   Church  there.     One  Mrs. ,  a  friend  of  mine,  is  lately 

deceased,  but  before  her  death,  was  baptized,  and  had  the  Lord  s  Suppei 
administered  to  her,  and  got  her  Children  baptized,  whereof  I  had  a  late 
Account  in  a  letter  from  one  of  my  friends  there,  now  a  zealous  Churcnman. 

"In  Lono-  Island  there  are  not  many  Quakers;  it  is  a  great  place  and  has 
many  Inhabitants,  English  and  Dutch;  the  Dutch  are  Calvinists  and  have 
some  Calvinistical  Congregations  ;  the  English  some  of  them  Independents 
but  many  of  them  no  Religion,  but  like  Wild  Indians ;  there  is  no  Church  of 
England  in  all  Long  Island,  nor  in  all  that  great  Continent  of  New  lork 
Province,  except  at  New  York  Town. 

"The  places  where  the  Quakers  have  their  greatest  Meeting  in  Long  Island 
are  Flushing  and  Oyster  Bay,  in  both  which  places  I  have  been  several  times 
at  their  Meetings.  ~     , 

"  In  Road  Island  where  I  have  been  several  times,  there  are  many  Quakeis 
and  Anabaptists,  but  never  had  a  Church  of  England  until  of  late 

"  In  all  the  Continent  of  New  England  there  is  no  Church  of  England  i 
think,  but  at  Boston,  I  have  travelled  through  much  of  it,  but  never  heard  of 
any  but  that  one.  Few  Quakers  are  at  Boston.  There  are  some  at  Sand- 
wich, some  at  Piscataway  and  other  scattered  Places,  but  very  few.  _ 

"  It  seems  a  good  expedient  to  me  that  such  Ministers  as  go  over  into  these 
parts  that  I  have  named,  should  not  constantly  reside  in  one  place  at  present, 
but  preach  at  several  places  through  the  whole  Province,  which  they  may 
safely  now  travel  through  from  one  end  to  another,  with  little  charge  or 

**  "And*  that  a  considerable  number  of  little  books,  such  as  the  Pastoral 
Letter,  and  those  against  Swearing,  Drunkenness,  and  Sabbath  breaking  were 
sent  to  be  spread  among  them.  And  if  a  little  book  were  printed  by  some 
able  man,  to  show  the  sin  of  Schism,  to  persuade  to  the  Communion  ot  the 
Church  of  England,  and  sent  among  them,  it  would  be  of  good  service. 

"  I  remain, 

"  Worthy  Sir, 

"  Your  humble  servant, 

"George  Keith." 


xiv  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical   Collections. 

For  the  more  perfect  understanding  of  the  relation  of  Mr.  Keith's  missionary 
labors,  we  here  insert  a  general  view  of  the  state  of  religion  in  the  colonies 
about  the  time  of  his  visit. 

An  Account  of  the  State  of  Religion  in  the  English  Plantations  in  North 
America,  by  Col.  Dudley,  Governor  of  New  England. 

The  Plantations  on  the  Shore  of  America  as  they  lye  from  South  to  North 
may  be  thus  accounted  : 

South  Carolina  contains  Seven  thousand  Souls,  will  admit  and  support 

three  Ministers. 

North  Carolina,  Five  thousand  Souls,  alike  three  Ministers,  and  both 
stand  in  need  of  Schools. 

Virginia,  Forty  thousand  Souls,  was  by  the  Lord  Culpepper  divided  into 
about  Forty  Parishes  with  an  Established  Maintenance  by  Act  of  Assembly, 
but  are  not  fully  supply'd,  and  the  Maintenance  hurt  by  disuse,  but  will 
be  always  encouraged  by  Colonel  Nicholson  the  present  Governor. 

Maryland,  Twenty  five  thousand  Souls  in  twenty  six  parishes,  I  suppose 
well  supply'd  by  the  care  of  Dr.  Bray. 

Pensilvania  and  the  Lower  Counties  annext,  Fifteen  thousand  Souls, 
will  well  support  Four  Ministers;  one  at  Philadelphia,  and  one  in  each 
County,  with  dependant  Schools  upon  each. 

West  Jersey,  Two  thousand  Souls  most  Quakers,  may  yet  have  one 
Minister,  at  present,  supported  from  England. 

East  Jersey  Six  thousand  Souls  in  about  Seven  Towns  and  Parishes,  may 
at  present  support  Two  Ministers,  the  rest  being  Dissenters. 

Connecticut,  Thirty  thousand  Souls,  about  thirty  three  Towns,  all  Dissen- 
ters, supply'd  with  Ministers  and  Schools  of  their  own  persuasion. 

Naraganset  or  Kings  Province,  Three  thousand  Souls,  without  any  Minis- 
try or  public  form  of  Religion,  may  have  two  Ministers,  and  might  well 
Support  them. 

Road  Island  and  Providence  Plantations,  Five  thousand  Souls  in  Seven 
Towns,  at  present  under  a  Quaker  Government ;  but  might  have  Two  Minis- 
ters and  Schoolmasters,  at  first  subsisted  from  hence,  at  Feast  one  of  them. 

Massachusetts  or  New  England,  Seventy  thousand  Souls,  in  Seventy. 
Towns,  all  Dissenters,  that  have  Ministers  and  Schools  of  their  own  persuasion,* 
except  one  Congregation  of  the  Church  of  England  at  Boston,  where  there  are 
two  Ministers. 

New_  Hampshire,  Three  thousand  Souls  in  Six  Towns,  all  Dissenters,  that 
have  Ministers  and  Schools  of  their  own  persuasion. 

Province  of  Mayn,  Two  thousand  Souls  in  Six  Towns  (the  rest  of  that 
great  Province  being  in  ten  years  past  wasted  and  driven  off  by  the  Indians) 
are  all  Dissenters,  and  have  Ministers  and  Schools  of  their  own." 


Keith  and  Talbot. 


xv 


In  the  three  last  Colonies  and  Connecticut,  by  an  early  law  providing  for 
Ministers  and  Schoolmasters,  I  am  of  opinion  there  are  no  Children  to  be 
fonnd  of  ten  years  old,  that  do  not  read  well,  nor  men  of  Twenty  that  do  not 

W1Thet0Ministers  to  be  sent  from  England  to  any  of  the  abovesaid  Colonies, 
must  be  men  of  good  learning,  sound  morals,  and  should  not  be  very  young; 
and  where  there  is  not  the  view  of  a  good  support  from  their  hearers,  must  be 
supplied  from  hence  that  they  be  not  in  Contempt,  but  may  be  well  provided 
for  in  those  parts  where  the  Governments  are  immediately  dependant  upon 
the  Crown  and  Government  of  England. 

After  Mr.  Keith  came  over,  and  had  made  a  survey  of  the  field  before  him, 
he,  in  conjunction  with  the  few  clergymen  then  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
country  (with  the  exception  of  the  two  or  three  in  New  England),  made  the 
Mowing  statement,  designed  for  the  Venerable  Society.  It  contains  no  details 
of  Mr.  Keith's  journeyings  or  labors,  as  set  forth  in  his  Journal;  but  is  never- 
theless valuable  as  contributing '  to  a  picture  of  the  religion  of  the  times,  as 
viewed  by  the  eyes  of  churchmen. 

An  Account  of  the  State  of  the  Church  in  North  America,  by  Mr.  George 
Keith  and   Others. 

A  Brief  account  of  the  State  of  the  Church  in  the  American  parts  hereafter 
mentionel,  and  a  scheme  of  such  proper  and  «Pf^^^™££ 
as  we  humbly  Conceive  by  the  blessing  of  God,  may  be  useful  to  the  i  educing 
?L  main  body  of  the  DisLters  of  all  sorts  to  f  Church  of  England,  by  way 
of  Question  and  Answer. 

In  what  circumstances  the  Church  of  England  is,  as  by  Law  Established 
and  the  Schools  ? 

PEKSiLVANiA-Thereisno  Church  or  School  established  by  any  Law  in 
the  Pio'oc'Lertheless  in  Philadelphia  (the  Chief  Town  -  ^nsikania 
there  is  one  Church  consisting  of  a  large  Congregation  having  Mr.  Evan,  tor 
ther  Master  and  Mr.  Thomas  his  Assistant,  with  three  Congregations  in 
he  Cott^'vl  Chester,  Radner  (being  a  Welch  ^Church),  and  Oxford, 
which  are  supplied  only  in  the  week  days  by  the  said  Ministers. 

West  New  Jersey.— There  is  no  Church  or  School  established  by  Law  ot 
the  Province. 

East  New  JERSEY.-There  are  eight  English  Towns,  and  two  Dutch,  but 
neither  Church  or  School  established  by  any  Law. 

New  York -There  are  some  Counties,  five  of  which  are  inhabited  by 
Dutch   and  those  of  Dutch  extraction,  viz.  Albany,  Ulster,  Dutchess  Orange 
and  feS  County,  in  which  the  Church  and  Church  of  England  School 
have  notVet  been  settled,  but  the  Presence  of  the  present  Governor  of  that 
Provinc  /his  Excellency  he  Lord  Cornbury,  has  mightily  influenced  many  of 


xvi  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

the  people  of  the  said  Counties  to  desire  that  Church  of  England  Ministers 
and  Schoolmasters  may  be  sent  amongst  them,  particularly  Albany  repre- 
sentatives have  desired  his  Lordship  that  an  English  Schoolmaster  might  be 
established  in  that  county,  and  some  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Ulster  County 
passionately  desire  a  Church  of  England  Minister ;  Suffolk  County  is  the  only 
English  County  without  a  legal  Establishment  of  a  Church  of  England 
Minister  ;  for  in  ye  County  of  West  Chester,  Queen's  County,  Richmond,  and 
New  York  County,  the  Church  is  Established  by  Law,  this  Province,  though 
it  hath  a  great  number  of  Inhabitants,  could  never  yet  obtain  a  publick  legally 
Established  School. 

New  England. — There  is  no  Church,  nor  Church  of  England  School 
established  by  Law  in  all  the  Colonies  Eastward  of  the  Province  of  New  York, 
viz.  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts  Bay,  Plymouth  and  New 
Hampshire,  except  at  Boston,  where  there  is  one  Church  of  England,  consist- 
ing of  a  large  Congregation,  having  two  Ministers,  Mr.  Myles  and  Mr.  Bridge, 
and  one  in  Rhode  Island  consisting  of  a  large  Congregation  and  one  Minister, 
viz.  Mr.  Lockier    Lockyer],  and  another  in  Braintry  which  has  no  Minister. 

How  Ministers  and  Schoolmasters  are  maintained  ? 

Philadelphia. — The  two  Ministers  are  maintained  by  the  Voluntary 
subscriptions  of  the  Congregation,  and  the  coustant  munificence  of  his  Excel- 
lency Col.  Nicholson,  Governor  of  Virginia. 

Jerseys. — In  the  West  and  East  New  Jerseys,  there  is  neither  Minister 
nor  maintenance. 

New  York. — A  Provision  is  made  by  Law  for  six  Ministers,  viz :  in  the 
City  and  County  of  New  York  £100  per  annum  of  the  money  of  this  province, 
for  one  Minister  ;  In  Queens  County  on  Nassau  Island  £120  per  annum  for 
two  Ministers  to  be  equally  divided  betwixt  them ;  £40  per  annum  for  one 
Minister  in  the  County  of  Richmond ;  in  West  Chester  County  a  maintenance 
for  two  Ministers,  viz.  £50  for  each,  besides  her  Majesty  allows  £130  per 
annum  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Chaplain  of  the  Forces.  There  is  yet  no 
provision  for  Schoolmasters  made  by  Law,  though  by  the  zealous  Recommenda- 
tion of  the  Lord  Cornbury  to  the  general  Assembly,  a  legal  maintenance  is 
undoubtedly  expected,  and  till  then  the  Church  of  England  Schoolmaster  in 
the  County  of  New  York  as  heretofore,  will  be  supported  by  the  Voluntary 
Contributions  of  those  whose  children  are  instructed  by  him  ;  notwithstanding 
it  is  humbly  conceived  that  an  annual  Pension  from  England  for  the  Support 
and  farther  encouragement  of  some  Ministers  and  Schoolmasters  in  poor 
Towns  will  be  of  great  use  and  service  to  the  Church. 

Boston. — Mr.  Myles  is  maintained  by  the  Contribution  of  the  Church  and 
Mr.  Bridge  out  of  her  Majesty's  Treasury  in  England. 

Rhode  Island. — Mr.  Lockier,  the  Minister,  is  maintained  partly  by  the 
Contributions  of  the  people,  and  partly  by  a  Supply  from  England. 

What  Number  of  Churches,  Schools  and  Ministers  ? 

As  for  Pensilvania,  Jerseys  and  New  England  this  is  answered  already 
ut  supra. 


Keith  and  Talbot.  xvii 

New  York.— There  are  in  this  Province  one  Chapel  and  four  Churches, 
viz.  one  Chapel  in  Fort  William  Henry,  two  Churches  in  9*T*oTTk2 
in  the  County  of  West  Chester,  and  one  large  Church  in  the  City  ot  Mew 
York,  founded  Anno  Domini,  1695,  and  erected  by  the  charitable  Contribu- 
tions of  many  well  disposed  persons,  especially  the  generous  donations  0f  hs 
Excellency  Col.  Nicholson,  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  Col.  Fletcher,  late 
Governor  of  New  York.  M 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Edmund  Moll,  is  Chaplain  to  the  Fort  and  Forces     Mr. 
Bartow,  Rector   of  West    Chester    County  ;    Mr.   Vesey,    Rector    of  New 
York;  the  Reverend  Mr.  Gordon,  late  Rector  of  Queens  County,  who  to  the 
grief  of  all  2;ood  men  is  removed  by  Death. 
No  School  house  yet  erected  in  this  Province. 
How  the  People  are  inclined  to  promote  them  ? 

Philadelphia.— The  English  Congregation  is  very  forward  to  encourage 
and  promote  the  Interest  of  the  Church  of  England;  as  for  the  congregations 
of  the  County,  being  lately  reduced  from  Quakerism  they  are  very  averse 
from  a  Maintenance  and  therefore  the  Ministers  of  Philadelphia  freely  serve 
the  Cures. 

E^st  and  West  Jersey.— There  is  a  considerable  number  of  People  that 
were  formerly  Quakers,  and  other  Dissenters  in  a  good  disposition  to  embrace 
Communion  with  the  Church,  but  not  so  forward  to  contribute  to  the  Main- 
tenance of  those  who  discharge  these  offices,  wherewith  God  is  served  by  his 
Church. 

New  York— In  all  these  Counties  where  the  Church  is  established  by  the 
law  of  this  Province,  the  People  generally  are  in  a  readiness  to  embrace  the 
Doctrines  and  Worship  of  the  Church,  and  to  Encourage  Free  Schools. 

New  England.— In  Swansey,  Naraganset,  Seconet,  Bramtry  Salem 
Ipswich,  and  Piscataway,  there  are  several  hundreds  of  People  in  those  and 
other  places  of  New  England,  desirous  of  Church  of  England  Ministers  among 
them,  a  considerable  Number  of  which  in  Swansey  and  Seconet  have  already 
petitioned  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  for  two  Ministers. 

What  Number  of  them  are  of  the  Church  of  England  and  in  what  Places  ? 
In  Philadelphia  and  the  adjacent  places  by  a  modest  Computation,  there 
seems   to  be   1  or  800,  the  number  being  considerably  increased  since  the 
arrival  of  the  two  present  Ministers. 

East  and  West  Jerseys,  ut  supra  in  the  4th  Question. 
New  York.— That  large  Church  is  now  thronged,  and  the  Congregation 
daily  increasing,  by  an  addition  of  Dutch  and  French,  as  well  as  English 
People  al^o  in  other  Counties  of  this  Province,  the  number  of  those  who  are 
earnestly  desirous  of  a  Church  Minister  is  very  considerable,  though  at  present 
the  exact  number  cannot  be  known. 

New  England,  ut  supra  in  the  1st  Question. 

What  hopes  there  are  to  bring  more  over,  and  by  what  ways  and  means  ? 

In  Pensilvania,  the  West  and  East  Jerseys,  and  the  several  Colonies  of 


xviii  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

New  England,  there  are  great  hopes,  were  there  a  considerable  number  of 
pious,  learned  clerks,  well  versed  in  the  controversies  between  the  Church  and 
the  Brethren  of  the  Separation,  speedily  sent  over  and  supported  by  England 
and  by  maintenance,  and  as  for  the  ways  and  means,  we  humbly  conceive, 
that  if  the  Queen,  the  Lord  Chancellor,  the  Arch  Bishops,  Bishops,  Collegiate 
Churches,  and  Universities,  would  be  pleased  to  present  as  many  pious  and 
learned  Ministers,  as  are  needful,  to  livings,  as  they  fall,  of  £200  per  annum, 
at  least,  upon  condition  that  they  come  to  the  aforesaid  places,  to  preach  the 
Gospel  for  such  time  as  their  Graces  and  Lordships  shall  soe  arrange. 

That  if  a  competent  portion  of  the  Tyth  may  be  reserved  for  the  supply  of 
the  Cures,  and  the  residue  sent  Yearly  to  supply  the  Missionaries  ;  with  sub- 
mission, we  believe  that  this  would  effectually  contribute  to  the  Proselyting, 
the  main  body  of  the  Dissenting  People,  to  their  Ancient  Mother,  the  Church  ; 
or  if  this  Method  be  not  so  agreeable  to  the  persons  above  mentioned,  it  is 
humbly  suggested  that  until  the  fund  to  be  raised  by  that  Noble  and  Illus- 
trious Society,  for  the  Propagating  of  Christian  Faith,  in  these  Parts,  be  able 
to  answer  the  charge  of  their  great  and  pious  undertaking,  that  their  Lord- 
ships would  be  pleased  to  contrive  how  the  profits  of  such  Sine  Cures,  as  are  in 
the  Queen's  and  their  Lordship's  gifts  may  be  sequestred  as  they  fall,  for  the 
supply  of  the  Missionaries  ;  and  it  is  humbly  prayed  that  a  remarkable 
encouragement  may  be  given  to  such  as  will  undertake  the  study  of  the 
Indian  languages  in  order  to  their  Conversion  ;  and  that  above  all,  a  Suffra- 
gan Bishop  may  be  sent  over  for  the  Confirming  the  Baptized,  and  giving 
orders  to  such  as  are  willing  and  well  qualified  to  receive  them,  there  being  a 
considerable  number  of  actual  preachers  and  others  of  New  England.education 
well  disposed  to  serve  in  the  Ministry. 

New  York. — If  proper  methods  be  speedily  taken,  we  have  reasonable 
hopes  that  the  English  Counties  of  that  Province  will  be  easily  reconciled  to 
the  Church,  as  to  ways  and  means,  by  sending  a  pious  and  learned  Clergy 
among  them  as  aforesaid :  again  that  in  the  small  Towns  the  Ministers  have 
directions  and  Encouragement  given  them  to  officiate  as  Ministers  and  School- 
masters, than  which  a  more  effectual  way  cannot  be  taken  to  establish  the 
Church  on  the  Sure  and  lasting  foundations  of  Truth  and  Peace. 

And  as  to  the  Dutch  Counties  and  Towns  in  the  Province  it  would  be  of 
admirable  Service  to  send  such  Dutch  Ministers  to  their  Vacant  Counties  and 
Towns,  especially  forthwith  one  to  Kings  County,  now  destitute,  ordained  by 
the  Bishop  of  London,  with  whom  they  would  as  readily  comply  as  if  they 
were  Ministers  of  their  own  persuasion. 

What  opposition  and  Discouragement  the  Church  of  England  meets  with, 
from  the  Government,  Society  of  people  or  private  persons  ? 

Pensilvania. — The  chief  opposition  and  discouracjment  the  Church  of 
England  meets  with,  ariseth  from  persons  disaffected  being  put  into  places 
and  offices  of  trust  in  council,  in  Commission  of  the  peace  and  Courts  of 
Jurisdiction. 

One  other  great  discouragement  which  the  Church  labours  under,  is  from 

the  pretended  Ministry  of  Quakers,  who  have  threatened  our  Reverend  and 

"  worthy  Brother,  Mr.  Keith,  at  their  Meeting  places,  which  he  has  visited  in 


Keith  and  Talbot.  X1X 

New  England,  Rhode  Island,  Long  Island,  and  the  two  Jerseys,  with  the 
penalty  of  £20  for  speaking  in  their  Meetings,  though  without  Interruption  to 
their  Speakers;  and  notwithstanding  they  have  not  qualified  themselves 
according  to  the  Act  of  Toleration.  There  is  a  great  opposition  also  from  all 
other  Dissenters,  as  Presbyterians,  Independants  and  Anabaptists,  who  daily 
increase  in  other  Provinces,  as  well  as  Pensilvania,  for  want  of  an  established 
Ministry  of  the  Church  in  those  Parts. 

New  York.— The  Church  of  England  under  the  late  Administration  of 
the  Lord  Bellamontand  Captain  Nanfan  hath  been  grievously  opposed  and  op- 
pressed ;  but  since  the  auspicious  arrival  of  the  Right  Honorable  the  Lord 
Cornbury,  has  been  delivered  from  the  violence  of  the  enemies,  restored  to  her 
rio-hts,  o-reatly  countenanced  and  encouraged,  and  lives  under  the  just  expecta- 
tion of  being  more  firmly  established  and  enlarged.  But  many  of  the  Dutch 
Dissenters  and  all  the  Quakers,  though  differing  from  one  another  amongst 
themselves,  yet  agree  in  opposing  with  great  zeal  and  malice,  whatever  tends 
to  the  honour  and  interest  of  the  Church. 

New  England.— Whilst  the  Council  as  well  as  the  Assembly  is  in  the 
choice  of  the  people,  and  whilst  the  Assembly  assumes  a  power  to  oblige  the 
Members  of  the  Church  of  England  that  maintain  their  own  Minister,  to 
contribute  by  a  tax,  in  proportion  much  beyond  others  of  the  like  Estate,  to 
Support  the  Dissenting  Ministry,  there  are  but  slender  hopes  to  see  the 
Church  increase  and  flourish  in  that  Colony. 

How  Quakers  and  others  support  their  Meetings  and  Schools. 

1.  The  Quakers  support  their  Meetings  and  Schools  by  several  ways  and 
means,  as  first  by  their  Established  Weekly,  Monthly,  Quarterly,  and  yearly 
Meetings. 

2.  By  the  great  and  large  collections  of  Money  gathered,  especially  at  then- 
Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings,  which  they  put  into  a  Common  stock.  _ 

3.  By  their  proselyting  many  poor  People  to  their  way,  by  their  Charity. 

4.  Bv  keeping  their  Trade  within  themselves  and  maintaining  a  strict 
Correspondence  and  Intelligence  over  all  parts  where  they  are. 

5.  By  the  many  and  sometimes  great  Legacies  which  the  Quakers  at  their 
Death  give  to  the  Common  Stock,  they  appointing  persons  to  visit  the  sick, 
upon  that  Account,  so  that  in  Philadelphia  they  have  £1000  given  by  Lega- 
cies in  about  two  years  last  past,  as  appears  by  the  Records  of  their  Wills  in 
Philadelphia. 

6.  By  sending  over  great  numbers  of  Missionaries  yearly  from  England 
into  these  Parts  and  furnishing  them  well  out  of  their  National  Stock,  especi- 
ally since  Mr.  Keith  left  them. 

7.  By  their  having  George  Foxe's  Orders  and  Canons  duly  and  orderly 
read  in  their  Monthly  and  especially  in  their  Quarterly  Men  and  Women's 
Meetings  ;  though  they  never  read  one  chapter  of  the  Holy  Bible  in  the  said 
meetings. 

8.  By  spreading  Books,  printed  both  in  England  and  here  and  dispersing 
them  at  cheap  rates,  which  leavens  their  youth  with  prejudices  against  the 
Church  and  her  Ministers. 


xx  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

9.  By  frequent  Meetings  of  their  Speakers  to  consider  of  ways  and  means 
to  propagate  their  errors. 

10.  By  their  great  hospitality  to  all  friends,  and  others  that  come  to  their 
public  Meetings,  especially  their  Quarterly  and  Yearly  Meetings. 

1 1.  By  suffering  none  of  themselves  to  marry  but  with  those  of  their  own 
profession. 

12.  By  refusing  to  swear  and  fight,  by  which  means  many  come  over  to 
them,  to  excuse  themselves  from  being  jurymen  and  serving  in  the  Militia. 

13.  By  building  diverse  large  and  fair  Structures,  for  their  Meeting  houses, 
especially  in  Philadelphia,  Burlington,  and  Rhode  Island. 

14.  By  keeping  and  publickly  recording  all  Misfortunes  and  Accidents  of 
Sudden  Deaths  that  happen  to  their  Adversaries  which  they  call  Judgments  of 
God  upon  their  Opposers,  whether  Priests,  Impropriators,  Magistrates,  or  others. 

15.  By  keeping  a  true  and  exact  Register  of  all  their  Births,  Burials,  and 
Marriages,  and  all  Passages,  Travels,  and  Sufferings  of  their  travelling  friends, 
especially  by  keeping  a  distinct  and  particular  record  of  the  Sufferings  and 
Death  of  the  friends  of  the  Ministry  with  the  Circumstances  of  the  time  and 
place  of  their  decease. 

16.  By  collecting  into  volumes  the  particular  Treatises  of  the  preaching 
Quakers  of  Account  after  their  Deaths,  after  they  have  expunged  some  of 
their  lying  Prophecy's,  and  other  Ridiculous  and  Scandalous  Passages. 

17.  By  their  seeking  out  in  what  places  in  England  and  elsewhere  what 
they  can  object  of  Scandals  against  either  Ministers  or  People,  professing 
Communion  with  the  Church,  reproaching  the  whole  Church  with  them. 

18.  By  their  grossly  misrepresenting  the  Doctrine  of  the  Church  of 
England  and  of  all  other  Protestant  Churches  in  all  points  of  difference 
between  them. 

19.  By  their  high  pretences  to  the  extraordinary  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  the 
same  in  kind  with  those  which  the  Apostles  and  Prophets  had. 

20.  By  their  singularities  in  Common  Speech,  and  refusing  to  give  any 
marks  of  honour,  or  due  respects  to  Magistrates  and  Superiors. 

21.  By  setting  up  Meetings  in  all  places  where  they  can  find  access,  though 
they  have  no  resident  Ministers  to  preach  or  pray  in  these  said  Meetings ; 
hundreds  of  which  sort  are  in  England,  and  many  in  these  American  Parts. 

22.  By  the  People's  great  liberality  to  all  their  Itinerant  Preachers,  and 
putting  their  Ministers  generally  into  a  way  of  Trade,  especially  Merchandizing, 
and  putting  many  poor  Mechanics,  Servants,  and  Women,  that  have  no  good 
way  of  living,  pretending  to  the  Ministry  among  them,  into  such  ways  of  trade 
and  business,  whereby  to  live  plentifully,  by  which  means,  many  who  had 
nothing  are  become  rich. 

23.  By  their  great  partiality  in  concealing  the  gross  faults  of  their 
Ministers  and  People  favouring  them  of  their  party,  either  in  Arbitrations  or 
Courts  of  Judicature,  where  they  have  the  Government  in  their  hands,  or 
any  share  therein. 

24.  By  their  using  all  possible  Endeavours  to  discourage,  reproach,  and 
scandalize  all  such  Persons  as  leave  their  Communion  for  their  errors  and 
other  unjust  practices,  and  to  ruin  them  if  possible,  and  then  to  tell  their 
hearers  that  the  Judgment  of  God  fell  upon  such  who  forsake  the  truth  as 
they  term  it,  by  which  they  fright  the  people. 


Keith  and  Talbot. 


xxi 


What  ways  and  means  are  proper  to  put  a  stop  to  them  ? 

By  using  some  of  the  like  ways  and  means  above  mentioned,  such  as  are 
lawfull,  proper  and  convenient ;  many  of  the  above  mentioned  being  very  un- 
lawfull  which  are  used  by  them.  By  sending  over  such  Books  as  are  most 
proper  and  useful,  not  only  for  the  detecting  the  Quakers  errors  but  also  for 
informing  the  People  in  the  Doctrine,  way  and  Worship  of  the  Church, 
especially  all  the  Works  of  the  Author  of  the  "  Snake  in  the  Grass,  particu- 
larly his  live  discourses  printed  together  by  Charles  Brown,  "the  Invention  of 
Man  in  the  Worship  of  God,"  by  Dr.  King,  Bishop  of  Londonderry  all  the 
small  treatises  lately  published  against  profane  swearing  and  breach  ot  the 
Sabbath.  The  abstract  of  the  "  London  Cases,"  Dr.  Bevendge  s  Sermon  con- 
cerning the  excellency  and  usefulness  of  the  Common  Prayer  "  The  unworthy 
communicant,"  "Comber  upon  the  Common  Prayer,"  "Ihe  Whole  duty 
of  Man"  Mr.  Brent,  of  Bristol,  against  lying,  Common  Prayer  Books  and 
books  of  homilies,  and  the  articles  of  the  Church  of  England  and  Catechisms, 
the  Exposition  of  the  Church  Catechism,  by  the  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells. 
Lastly,  Large  and  Common  Prayer  Books,  for  Churches;  that  the  Executive 
part  of  the  Government  be  put  into  the  hands  of  persons  well  affected  to  the 

Church  of  England.  ,     ,  .      ,         .  ,  n 

That  Ministers  of  the  Church  of  England  in  these  American  parts  as  well 
as  Enoland,  acquaint  themselves  well  with  the  Quakers  erroneous  Doctrine 
and  Principles,  and  that  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  all  such,  where 
Quakers  abound  most,  to  preach  against  their  sad  Doctrines  and  principles, 
which  are  most  erroneous,  at  least  once  every  three  months  in  their  Parish 
Churches. 


New  York.  Signed  by  us, 

George  Keith. 

Evan  Evans,  Cler.  Minister  of  Philadelphia. 

Alexander  Innes,  Presbyter. 

Edmond  Mott,  Chaplain  of  Her  Majesty's  Forces  in  New  York. 

John  Talbot. 

William  Veset,  Rector  of  New  York. 

John  Bartow. 


xxii  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical   Collections. 

Mr.  Keith    to  Dr.  Bray. 

Philadelphia,  24th  Feb.  1703-4. 

"Dr.  Bray— 

"Reverend  and  Worthy  Sir: 

"  My  very  humble  and  kind  respects 
remembered  to  you,  and  all  our  friends  with  you ;  having  this  occasion  I 
was  glad  to  accept  of  it  (as  of  all  occasions  that  occur)  to  write  unto  you.  I 
writ  unto  you  from  New  York,  in  November  last,  together  with  our  scheme 
of  the  State  of  the  Church  in  these  Northern  parts  of  America,  and  therewith 
I  sent  a  long  letter  to  the  Honourable  Corporation  for  Propagating  the 
Gospell  in  Foreign  Parts,  and  a  letter  to  my  Lord  of  London,  all  which  I 
enclosed  in  my  letter  to  you,  which  I  hope  you  have  received.  I  have  had 
Uo  letter  from  you  as  yet,  nor  from  any  of  your  honourable  Corporation,  but 
one  from  my  worthy  friend,  Mr.  Chamberlayne,*  wherein  he  signified  to  me 
that  your  Corporation  had  not  met,  betwixt  his  receiving  my  Letters  and  the 
time  of  his  writing  to  me,  so  that  he  could  not  say  any  thing,  what  the  Cor- 
poration would  do,  concerning  allowing  Mr.  Talbot  his  charge  in  travelling 
with  me,  but  he  thought  that  they  would  be  well  satisfied  that  he  was  my 
companion,  and  would  allow  him  what  they  thought  was  convenient.  I  have 
heard  Mr.  Talbot  say  that  if  they  allow  him  £50  English  money  per  annum, 
it  will  do,  and  indeed  that  is  little  enough,  and  would  not  near  do,  but  that 
we  are  often  upon  free  quarters,  more  especially  among  our  friends.  Mr. 
Talbot,  I  hear,  has  a  good  character  given  of  him,  to  my  Lord  of  Canterbury, 
and  indeed  he  deserves  it,  he  has  been  mightily  serviceable  and  comfortable 
to  me  in  all  respects,  as  a  Son  to  his  Father,  and  is  well  beloved  by  all  where 
we  have  travelled,  who  are  well  affected  to  the  Church ;  and  has  been  much 
desired  by  the  People  in  several  Places,  to  be  their  Minister  (after  he  has  finished 
his  travels  with  me,  which  are  like  to  be  done,  somewhat  above  a  year  here- 
after) particularly  at  Chester,  about  16  miles  Southward  from  Philadelphia, 
by  the  river  Delaware,  where  he  has  once  preached,  and  hath  brought  over 
the  same  time  there  also,  in  the  said  Town  of  Chester,  Mr.  Yeates  who  lives 
there,  and  who  has  been  the  principal  person,  to  cause  build  a  Church,  very 
decent  and  convenient  of  Brick,  that  will  hold  a  thousand  people,  it  is  well 
glazed,  but  not  as  yet  wainscotted  nor  plaistered,  but  it  is  fit  for  use,  and  we 
have  preached  in  it  twice:  the  14th  of  this  instant  I  preached  in  it,  and  there 
were  above  two  hundred  hearers,  all  generally  well  affected  to  the  Church  ; 
but  they  greatly  desire  a  Minister,  and  if  the  Corporation  please  to  give  an 
yearly  supply  of  £50  per  annum,  the  people  there,  and  thereabouts,  would 
contribute  to  make  up  the  rest.  This,  Mr.  Yeates  desired  me  to  write  to  you 
to  lay  before  my  Lord  of  London  and  the  Honourable  Corporation. 

"  Betwixt  New  York  and  Pensylvania  we  continued  about  a  month,  viz. 
from  14th  of  December  to  11th  of  January  travelling  among  the  Friends, 
calFd  formerly  the  Keithian  Quakers  especially  for  East  Jersey,  having  been 
about  a  whole  month  travelling  among  them  before  that,  which  was  in  the 
month  October ;  and  by  God's  blessing  our  labour  has  had  good  success 
among  them,  so  that  generally  very  few  excepted,  all  the  Keithians  in  East 
Jersey  are  well  affected  to  the  Church,  and  we  baptized  twenty  two  persons 
*  He  was  Secretary  of  the  Society. 


Keith  and  Talbot.  xxiii 

in  East  Jersey,  all  either  Keithians  or  Keithian  children.  I  am  forced  to  use 
this  name  of  distinction  to  distinguish  them  from  the  other  Quakers  who  are 
generally  very  stiff  and  averse  from  the  Church,  and  all  principles  of  true 
Christianity  everywhere,  and  who  decline  all  discourse  or  converse  with  us. 
Colonel  Morris  did  very  kindly  entertain  us  at  his  house  in  East  Jersey,  and 
both  he  and  his  Lady  went  with  us  from  meeting  to  meeting  in  divers  places. 
At  Amboy  in  East  Jersey  they  have  contributed  about  £200  towards  building 
a  Church  and  greatly  desire  a  Minister.  The  Contributors  are  some  Keithians 
and  some  other  persons  well  affected  to  the  Church.  At  Burlington  also 
several  persons  (among  whom  some  are  Keithians)  well  affected  to  the  Church 
have  contributed  about  two  hundred  pounds  towards  building  of  a  Church 
and  they  are  to  begin  the  Building  this  Spring.  In  all  these  new  erectings 
of  Churches  in  these  Northern  parts,  Governor  Nicholson  has  largely  con- 
tributed, and  is  a  mighty  promoter  and  encourager  of  them  by  his  Letters  and 
Advice  as  well  as  his  purse ;  as  not  only  at  Boston  and  Rhode  Island,  but  at 
Burlington,  in  West  Jersey,  Chester,  in  Pensylvania,  and  here  at  Philadelphia. 
In  all  places  where  I  have  yet  travelled,  at  Boston,  Rhode  Island,  N.  York 
and  Philadelphia,  the  Ministers  live  very  regularly  and  are  in  good  esteem, 
and  the  Churches  in  good  order,  and  the  people  generally  devout,  and  well 
affected  to  the  Word  and  the  publick  worship  of  God ;  at  Concord,  in  Pensil- 
vania,  and  thereabouts,  especially  at  Thomas  Powell's,  formerly  a  Keithian, 
several  people  formerly  Keithians,  are  well  affected  to  the  Church  and  enter- 
tained us  kindly.  Mr.  Evans,  Minister  of  Philadelphia,  was  with  me  and  I 
preached  at  two  severall  places  among  them  and  they  were  well  affected ;  also 
I  had  a  publick  dispute  with  one  Killingsworth,  an  Anabaptist  preacher  at  the 
house  of  Thomas  Powell.  This  Killingsworth  was  sent  for  by  some  Ana- 
baptists forty  miles  off  to  dispute  with  me.  The  dispute  continued  four  hours, 
it  has  had  good  effect  and  it's  hoped  will  have  more ;  they  belong  to  the 
new  Church  at  Chester  above  mentioned.  I  have  preached  here  at  Philadel- 
phia nine  several  times,  and  had  great  auditories,  in  some  of  them  a  thousand 
people  were  thought  to  be  present,  many  besides  the  Church  People,  Quakers, 
Presbyterians  and  Anabaptists.  But  of  late  the  Quakers  have  made  an  act  in 
their  meeting  that  none  of  them  may  come  to  Church,  which  has  of  late 
deterred  them  from  coming.  The  ministers  here  are  in  very  good  esteem 
among  the  People  and  they  have  a  brave  vestry  of  good  and  wise  men,  and 
good  concord,  love  and  unanimity  among  them,  so  that  the  Church  here  is  in 
a  Flourishing  Condition.  And  at  Newcastle,  40  miles  from  Philadelphia, 
there  is  at  present  no  minister,  they  had  a  Presbyterian  minister  called  Will- 
son,  but  he  has  been  gone  about  half  a  year.  Could  a  Minister  of  the  Church 
of  England  be  sent  among  them,  it's  thought  they  would  gladly  receive  him, 
and  it  would  be  of  mighty  service  for  advancing  the  Church  in  this  province, 
it  being,  as  it  were,  the  Frontier.  Also  in  other  parts  below  New  Casde, 
they  want  a  Minister. 

"There  is  a  mighty  cry  and  desire,  almost  in  all  places  where  we  have 
travelled,  to  have  Ministers  of  the  Church  of  England  sent  to  them  in  these 
Northern  parts  of  America ;  so  that  it  may  be  said  the  Harvest  is  great  but 
the  labourers  few,  and  some  well  affected  to  the  Church  have  desired  me  to 
write  to  my  Lord  of  London  and  to  you  that  if  a  Minister  be  not  sent  with  the 
first  Conveniency,  Presbyterian   Ministers    from  N.  England  would   swarm 


xxiv  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

into  those  countries  and  prevent  the  increase  of  the  Church.     They  have  here 
a  Pr    bv  erian  meeting  and  minister,  one  called  Andrews;  but  they  are  not 
fike  to  increase  here.     I  have  had  severall  meetings  with    he  Keithian   Qua- 
kers hi   at  my  lodgings,   and  friendly  conferences  with    them  and  their 
Seache    ,  and  list  Sunday  I  preached  at  a  Keithian  meeting  house   and  was 
kindly  inv'ited  to  dinner  after  the  meeting   by  a   man   and  h»  wife  of  thrt 
meetino',  and  that  evening  I  preached  at  the  Church.     Divers  of ^them  (God 
be  praised  for  the  success)  are  like  to  be  gained  to  the  Church  who  have 
heaK  frequently  at  the  Church  and  are  well  affected.  ■  Their  chief  speaker, 
John  Hart   has  vented  a  most  absurd  notion  in  his  Discourses  and  vindicates 
it  in  his  i  reaching,  (viz.)  That  true  Believers  ought  not  to  fear  Hell  and 
Damna^,  so  X  Conditionally,  and  they  ought  to  serve  God  on  y  from 
love  to  him,  without  all  regard  to  punishment  or   Scripture  tlneatemngs,  so 
much  as  coiditionally.     I  have  in  two  severall  meetings  at  my  Lodgings,  m 
Ztaring  of  his  foLwers,  detected  his  errors,  and  last  Sunday     preached  * 
lono-  sermon  ao-ainst  it,  in  the  Keithian  Meeting,  upon  that  Text,  lPeU-17, 
Wher  "opened  many 'other  Texts  of  Scripture  to  prove  that  a  Conditioned 
fear  is  necessary  to  the  best  of  Men  :  such  as  Heb.  4 :  1  ;  Rom.  14     10  &c. 
Most  of  h     hearers  and  followers  are  dissatisfied  with  the  strange  doctrine 
and  are  like  to  forsake  him.     I  have  told  them  'tis  vile  Antinomiamsm  and 
the  Root  of  Ranterism  and  Libertinism;  and  some  of  his  female  hearers  are 
offended  at  him  for  his  telling  them,  they  need  not  fear  to  commit  the  sin  of 
whoredom  being  chaste  women.     He  openly  denied  before  many  judicious 
persons  to  me  at  my  lodgings  last  Monday,  22nd  of  this  Instant,   hat  pubhck 
pSment  of  death  was"  inflicted  upon  a  murtherer  for  a  terror  to  others,  if 
innocent  which  I  told  him  was  contrary  to  Dent.  Id  :  iu,  n. 

"The  s  x  boxes  you  sent  are  all  come  safe  ;  that  to  Boston,  that  to  New 
York  that  to  the  two  Jerseys,  and  that  to  Pensylvania,  are  disposed  of  already 
accord  ng  to  your  orders,  and  are  very  acceptable  to  the  people  The  great 
BMes  hffolio  I  have  given  one  of  them  to  the  Church  in  Philadelphia,  at  the 
Mmiste?s  request,  another  to  the  new  Church  at  Chester  above  mentioned 
aSher  I  thmk  to  give  to  the  Church  at  Burlington  and  another  to  that  of 
S>y  and  the  reft  to  other  Churches  when  erected  There  is  a  great  need 
of  Con men  Prayer  Books  in  8vo  for  the  use  of  the  people,  ""7™" 
o-ladlv  buy  them  and  some  might  be  given  to  the  Poorer  Sort.  I  wish  2  or 
1^0  wei7sent  over  to  these  pL  direct  them  to  Mr.  tou*  the  minis^r £ 
you  send  them  ;  also  the  new  Psalms,  being  only  used  here  n  thw  Chnrch 
the  people  want  them  greatly ;  if  you  would  send  over  100  of  them  at  least 
I  hS  the  people  would  gladly  buy  them.  They  sing  very  well  m  the 
Chu  ch  here,  and  the  youth  have  learned  to  sing  and  delight  much  n  it.  I 
We  disposed  of  many  of  your  lectures  in  folio  which  are  very  acceptable  to 
Ik I  people,  and  as  you  ordered,  have  desired  them  to  read  them  to  their 
familips  and  neighbours  on  Sundays.  , 

"Dear  Sir 'I  long  to  have  a  letter  from  you  to  know  of  your  welfare,  and 
other  Zod  news  you  have  to  impart  to  me,  and  what  hopes  you  can  give  us 
of  having  good  ministers  sent  over  to  these  parts,  which  are  so  greatly  wanted 
and  desired-  and  if  they  come  not  timely,  the  whole  country  will  be  overrun 
wttL  P  esbv  erians,  Anabaptists,  and  Quakerism  ;  the  Quaker  Missionaries  do 
mgh%  swarm  oil  of  old  England  into  these  parts,  and  have  prosehted 
many;  many  in  Long  Island  are  Quakers  or  Quakerly  affected. 


Keith  and  Talbot.  xxv 

"  You  see,  Dear  Sir,  what  a  long  letter  I  have  writ  to  you,  I  question  not 
your  acceptance  of  it.  It's  but  a  summary  of  affairs  here,  but  I  keep  a 
punctual  Journal  of  all  things  worthy  my  notice  in  my  Travells. 

"  I  have  written  the  more  at  length  to  you,  hoping,  Dear  Sir,  and  desiring 
that  you  would  be  pleased  to  impart  either  the  whole  or  what  part  of  it  you 
think  requisite  to  my  Lord  of  London,  and  my  Lord  of  Worcester,  and  to 
your  Honourable  Corporation.  We  intend  about  two  weeks  hence  to  set 
forward  to  Maryland  and  Virginia.  I  have  had  a  very  kind  letter  from  his 
Excellency,  Governor  Nicholson,  inviting  us  to  Virginia,  but  before  we  go 
hence,  I  purpose  to  have  a  Publick  meeting  in  this  place  to  detect  the 
Quakers  errors  out  of  their  own  Books,  after  the  method  I  used  at  Turner's 
Hall,  in  London.  All  course  of  Justice  against  Criminals  is  at  a  stop  here,  so 
that  the  Criminal  Court  can  do  nothing  against  murtherers  ;  the  Quakers 
throw  the  whole  Burden  of  Jurymen  upon  the  Churchmen,  so  that  a  great 
List  of  Churchmen  have  been  summoned  ;  such  as  have  appeared  (some 
formerly  Keithians)  men  of  good  sense  and  repute  have  refused  to  swear,  not 
that  they  think  it  unlawful],  but  that  there  is  no  law  in  the  Province,  that 
enjoins  swearing  in  any  case,  and  severall  persons  have  lain  long  here  in  Prison, 
some  on  suspected  murther,  and  can  have  no  trial,  and  are  said  to  be  in  great 
want  of  Bread.  Colonel  Quarry  I  suppose  will  give  my  Lord  of  London  or 
yourself,  some  more  full  information.  This  is  one  instance  of  many  of  the 
great  Deficiency  of  Quaker  Government.  I  send  you  herewith  a  small 
specimen  of  my  printed  Labors  here  away.  My  sermon  I  preached  at  Bos- 
ton soon  after  my  arrival,  was  sent  to  you  soon  after  it  was  printed,  but  it 
hath  not  come  to  your  Hands.  I  send  you  this  one  ;  the  single  sheet  called 
a  Refutation,  &c,  I  lately  printed  at  New  York.  Mr.  Increase  Mather  has 
printed  against  the  six  rules  in  ray  Sermon,  and  I  have  my  answer  in  the 
press  at  New  York,  in  vindication  of  them  ;  when  it  is  done,  I  shall  order 
some  copies  to  be  sent  to  you,  all  which  I  hope  will  be  acceptable  to  you  and 
the  clergy. 

"  I  remain  your  affectionate, 
"  Humble  servant, 

"  George  Keith." 


Mr.  Keith  to  the  Secretary. — Extract. 

"Philadelphia,  3d  April,  1703. 

"  Worthy  Sir  : 

"  The  main  thing  of  importance  I  have  at  present  to  write 
to  you  here,  is  to  tell  you  of  the  extreme  desire  that  people  have  in  severall 
parts  where  we  have  travelled  to  have  Church  of  England  Ministers  sent  to 
them  particularly  in  East  Jersey,  at  Amboy  and  in  the  Woods  about  where 
Colonel  Morris  lives,  att  Burlington,  in  West  Jersey,  also  at  Oyster  Bay,  in 
Long  Island,  and  at  Hampsted  and  in  this  province  of  Pensylvania,  at  Chester 
and  at  Frankford.     At  Chester,  20  miles  from  this,  down  the  River,  some 


xxvi  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

well-affected  have  built  a  brave  Church  of  Brick.  Mr.  Yates,  who  lives  there, 
has  been  the  principal  promoter  of  it.  Several  hundreds  come  to  Church 
there,  when  they  hear  of  a  Sermon  to  be  preached,  that  is  commonly  supplied 
by  the  ministers  there,  once  in  two  weeks,  and  the  like  at  Franckford  7  or  8 
miles  from  this  upward  the  river.  •, 

"  The  2  Ministers  here  (viz.)  Mr.  Evans  and  Mr.  Thomas,  have  a  very  good 
character  here,  and  to  my  knowledge  are  very  laborious  in  the  service  of  God 
and  Exemplary  in  Life,  the  people  of  the  Church  generally  zealous  and  well- 
affected,  the  most  of  them  my  former  acquaintance  and  many  of  them  my 
old  friends,  called  Keithians,  some  are  lately  come  to  Church  since  my  arrival 
here.  This  day  I  got  from  this  place  towards  Virginia,  having  been  in  this 
province  about  ten  weeks,  and  had  much  exercise  with  diverse  opposite 
spirits ;  but  all  the  Church  people  very  loving  to  us  and  respectfull.  If  God 
please  to  bring  us  safe  to  Maryland  and  Virginia,  you  shall  hear  from  us  with 
the  first  opportunity.  Thus,  Dear  Sir,  I  conclude,  with  my  Hearty  thanks  to 
you  for  all  your  civilities  and  my  sincere  prayers  to  Gocl  for  a  blessing  to  you 
and  yours,  desiring  your  prayers  for  me. 

"  And  remain  your  affectionate  friend  and  servant, 

"  George  Keith. 

"  P.  S.  I  suppose  long  before  this  you  have  heard  of  the  Decease  of  Worthy 
Mr.  Gordon,  who  dyed  at  Jamaica,  on  Long  Island,  about  six  weeks  after  his 
arrival  with  us  at  Boston ;  his  sickness  was  a  violent  fever  that  was  then 
frequent  at  N.  York,  where  it's  thought  he  first  had  it. 

"  I  hope  his  disease  will  be  no  discouragement  to  other  Good  men  to  come 
into  these  parts  where  the  Harvest  is  so  great  and  the  Labourers  so  few. 

"  I  thank  God  I  have  had  generally  good  health  of  Body  and  great  inward 
comfort,  joy  and  peace  of  mind  ever  since  my  arrival,  though  I  am  weak  in 
Body.  My  Companion  also  has  had  his  health  generally.  In  several  Places 
in  N.  England,  where  we  travelled,  as  I  have  formerly  writ  to  the  Honourable 
Society,  there  is  a  great  desire  for  ministers  of  the  Church  of  England  to  be 
sent  to  them,  as  at  Narraganset,  Swansey,  Little  Compton,  alias  Seconat.  In 
all  which  places  I  have  preached  and  was  kindly  received." 


Mr.  Keith  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 

"  Philadelphia,  26th  February,  1702-3. 

"  My  Lord  : 

"  I  think  it  not  proper  to  write  to  your  Lordship  a  long  letter,  to 
give  your  Lordship  an  account  of  the  many  circumstances  relating  to  my 
travels  and  services,  and  success  of  them  since  I  arrived  into  these  northern 
parts  of  America,  but  rather  in  general  to  acquaint  your  Lordship  with  the 
state  of  the  several  particular  Churches  under  your  inspection  and  care,  in 


Keith  and  Talbot.  xxvii 

these  Countries  where  I  have  travelled  ;  as  at  Boston  in  N.  England,  at 
Rhode  Island,  at  New  York,  and  here  at  Philadelphia  ;  in  all  which  places  to 
my  great  satisfaction  and  joy,  I  did  find  great  regularity  and  good  order.  The 
Ministers  in  very  good  repute  among  all,  and  the  people  devout  in  the  publick 
Worship  of  God,  and  generally  of  good  morals,  so  that  if  in  all  other  Places 
the  ministry  and  people  were  so  pious,  so  moral,  and  so  regular  as  I  have 
found  them,  in  those  places  where  I  have  travelled,  the  Church  of  England 
would  be  in  great  esteem  and  greatly  prosper.  Here  at  Philadelphia,  from  a 
small  beginning  the  Church  is  increased  considerably,  first  by  the  pious 
endeavours  and  great  diligence  of  Mr.  Clayton,  and  since  his  decease  by  others, 
and  especially  by  the  pious  endeavours  and  great  diligence  of  both  Mr.  Evans, 
the  Minister  here,  and  of  his  Assistant,  Mr.  Thomas,  of  both  whom,  the 
adversaries  of  the  Church  give  a  good  report,  touching  their  sobriety  and  good 
conversation.  The  Congregation  here  has  been  considerably  enlarged  in  num- 
ber by  those  called  Keithian  Quakers,  coming  into  the  Church,  whose  good 
examples  many  others  have  followed  both  in  town  and  country,  and  since  my 
arrival  in  this  Country  there  has  been  some  increase  in  Divers  places  both  of 
those  formerly  called  Keithians  and  others  who  are  well  affected  to  the  Church. 
In  E.  Jersey  the  Keithians  are  generally  zealous  for  the  Church  and  divers 
others  whom  they  have  an  influence  upon.  Mr.  Talbot,  my  Companion,  and 
I  have  laboured  among  them,  in  preaching  from  place  to  place,  and  had 
much  conference  with  them  in  private  from  House  to  House,  for  the  space  of 
two  months,  and  we  baptized  two  and  twenty  persons,  young  and  old  of  those 
called  Keithians.  In  W.  Jersey  also  those  formerly  called  Keithians  are  well 
affected  and  came  from  divers  parts  to  visit  me,  and  heard  me,  and  showed 
me  Love  and  Affection.  I  have  been  here  not  much  above  a  month,  and 
have  preached  nine  times  in  the  Church  here,  having  had  large  auditories, 
sometimes  about  a  thousand  persons  in  the  Church,  but  not  all  of  the  Church, 
many  of  them  Presbyterians,  some  Anabaptists,  and  some  Quakers,  but  the 
Quakers  of  late  have  made  an  Act  that  none  of  their  way  shall  come,  which 
has  at  present  put  a  stop  to  their  coming.  I  have  also  had  much  private 
discourse  with  some  who  yet  remain  Keithians,  and  use  to  meet  together  ;  of 
divers  of  them,  I  have  good  hope,  they  have  frequently  come  to  Church  to 
hear  me,  and  last  Sunday  I  went  and  preached  in  their  meeting,  with  which 
some  of  them  were  well  pleased  though  others  not. 

"  My  Lord,  there  is  an  exceeding  great  desire  in  divers  places  that  your 
Lordship  would  send  over  pious  and  able  Ministers  to  them,  both  in  Long 
Island,  E.  Jersey  and  W.  Jersey,  and  also  in  divers  places  in  this  province  of 
Pensylvania  (as  also  in  N.  England,  as  I  acquainted  your  Lordship  in  my 
former  letter,  November  last.)  The  people  well  affected  to  the  Church  have 
gathered  two  hundred  pounds  towards  building  a  Church  at  Burlington,  in 
W.  Jersey,  they  are  to  begin  to  build  as  they  have  told  me  this  Spring ;  also 
at  Amboy,  in  E.  Jersey,  they  intend  to  do  the  like.  Colonel  Morris  is  a  very 
good  friend  to  the  Church  and  a  promoter  of  it,  and  was  very  kind  and 
assistant  to  us,  and  is  very  regular  in  his  family,  and  his  Lady  is  a  very  pious 
and  good  Woman,  his  family  is  a  little  Church  ;  he  useth  the  Common 
Prayer  in  his  family  daily,  and  on  Sundays  his  neighbours  come  to  his  house, 
as  to  a  Church,  and  at  times  Mr.  Junesse  preacheth  in  his  house.  I  suppose 
your  Lordship  remembereth  Mr.  Junesse,  a  good  man,  but  a  nonjuror. 


xxviii  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

"  My  Lord,  if  but  3  or  4  pious  and  able  ministers  were  sent  over  to  supply 
the  present  necessity  in  these  provinces  of  E.  and  W.  Jersey  and  Pensylvama, 
it  would  be  of  exceeding  great  service  to  promote  and  increase  the  Church.  At 
Chester,  in  Pensylvania,  16  miles  Southward  from  Philadelphia,  by  the  River 
Delaware,  some  well  affected  persons  have  built  a  brave  Church.  Mr.  Yates, 
who- lives  at  Chester,  has  been  the  main  promoter  of  it;  they  are  to  write  to 
your  Lordship  earnestly  to  request  your  Lordship  to  send  them  an  able  and 
pious  Minister.  The  Quakers  are  very  many  and  rich,  in  and  about  that 
place,  but  some  of  good  note  of  them  called  Keithians  are  well  affected  to  the 
Church  in  that  County  who  would  certainly  join  with  the  Church,  if  they  had 
a  Minister.  I  have  lately  preached  at  Chester  and  had  an  auditory  of  above 
200  persons,  and  also  at  the  Houses  of  2  Keithians,  my  former  friends  and 
acquaintances,  who  received  me  with  much  affection.  I  am  forced  to  use  this 
term  of  distinction  to  distinguish  them  called  Keithians  from  the  other  sort  of 
Quakers  who  generally  are  most  refractory  and  pertinacious  in  their  Errors, 
but  yet  there  is  hope  of  many  of  the  Youth  among  them. 

"  There  is  here  at  Philadelphia  a  brave  vestry  of  men,  both  pious  and  very 
discreet  and  in  good  unity  and  harmony  one  with  another,  and  kind  to  their 
Ministers,  and  they  have  been  very  civil  and  Respectfull  to  us.  We  have 
lodged  all  the  time  of  our  stay  here  at  Philadelphia,  with  an  ancient  Gentle- 
woman, a  widow  called  Mistress  Welch,  formerly  a  Keithian  but  now  a 
zealous  Churchwoman  and  so  is  her  daughter. 

"  My  Lord,  having  thus  far  given  you  an  account  in  general  of  things 
hereaway,  I  shall  not  enlarge  upon  this  subject ;  what  further  shall  occur  in 
my  Travels,  I  think  to  acquaint  your  Lordship  from  time  to  time.  His 
Excellency  Governor  Nicholson  is  a  very  great  patron  and  benefactor  to  all 
the  New-Erected  Churches  in  these  Northern  parts  of  America. 

"  I  remain  your  Lordship's  most  humble 

"  And  most  obliged  servant, 

"  George  Keith." 


Mr.  Keith  to  the  Secretary. 

"  Philadelphia,  4th  September,  1703. 
"  Worthy  Sir: 

"  These  are  to  acquaint  you  that  by  God's  help  and  favour 
I  and  my  worthy  associate  Mr.  Talbot,  have  finished  our  Travels  in  Maryland, 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  and  are  safely  returned  to  this  place.  In  all 
Countryes  and  places  we  met  with  very  kind  reception  from  persons  of  all 
conditions,  high  and  low,  having  preached  in  all  the  several  parts  where  we 
travelled  both  on  Sundays  and  on  Weekdays  in  their  respective  Churches,  the 
Quakers  only  excepted,  who  not  only  in  these  parts  of  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia, but  in  all  other  parts  where  we  went  to  visit  their  meetings  and  have 
Friendly  Discourse  with  them  either  at  their  meetings  or  at  their  houses,  were 


Keith  and  Talbot.  =u* 

generally  very  uncivil  and  rude  to  us,  as  in  New  England,  at  Piscataway 
Rhode  Island,  and  Long  Island,  E.  and  W.  Jersey,  declining  generally  all 
discourse  with  us,  and  returning  nothing  to  our  kindly  offers  to  inform  them, 
but  reproaches  and  railings  and  gross  reflections  (not  only  upon  us,  but  upon 
the  Church  of  England  and  her  clergy)  used  by  some  of  them,  whereof  we 
have  sufficient  proof.     In  Virginia  there  are  but  few  Quakers  and  very  much 
asunder,  and  the  time  of  their  yearly  meeting  happened  when  we  were  on  our 
travels  returning  from  North  Carolina,  so  that  we  had  not  timely  notice  to  be 
there.     The  Quakers'  yearly  meeting  in  Maryland  was  over  before  we  came 
into  that  Country.     The  Governors  of  the  several  Countries  and  Provinces, 
where  we  have  travelled,  and  other  inferior  Magistrates  and  Justices  of  1  eace, 
were  very  kind  to  us,  and  so  were  all  the  Ministers  where  we  travelled ;  and 
kindly  invited  us  to  preach  in  their  Churches,  whenever  we  came,  as   ac- 
cordingly we  did.     Virginia  and  Maryland  are  generally  well  provided  with 
Ministers,  and  they  are  generally  of  good  repute,  but  in  some  Places  ministers 
are  wholly  wanting,  as  in  Princess  Ann's  County,  in  Virginia,  and  at  Anapo- 
lis,  in  Maryland;  and  in  all  North-Carolina  there  is  not  one  minister  since 
Mr.  Brett  is  gone,  of  whom  I  need  not  to  say  anything,  for  I  suppose  you  have 
heard  fully  of  his  bad  character.     In  Maryland,  Squire  Finch,  President  of  the 
Counsell  there,  and  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence,  Secretary,  with  divers  Justices  of 
Peace,  and  many  other  persons  of  good  quality,  showed  so  much  kindness  as 
to  go  with  us  to  one  of  the  Quakers'  meetings,  at  a  place  called  Herring- 
Creek,  to  countenance  us ;  and  not  only  so,  but  they  invited  us  to  go.     -But 
when  we  came,  soon  after  I  began  to  speak,  the  Quakers  being  there  all  silent ; 
When  I  began,  they  did  most  universally  and  rudely  interrupt  me  and  would 
not  suffer  me  to  speak,  notwithstanding  that  both  the  President,  Squire  J?  inch, 
and  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence,  the  Secretary,  did  entreat  them  to  give  rne  a 
hearing  and  to  have  some  friendly  discourse  with  me,  especially  to  vindicate 
the  Church  of  England  from  the  base  reflections  that  one  Thomas  btory,_a 
preaching  Quaker  from  Philadelphia,  had  cast  upon  her  and  her  Catechism  m 
their  last  yearly  meeting  in  Maryland,  but  by  no  means  would  the  fakers 
suffer  me  to  speak  nor  regard  the  entreaty  of  those  worthy  Persons      1  hey  did 
mightily  plead  that  their  meetings  were  tolerated  by  the  Act  of  Toleration 
and  that  for  my  offering  to  speak  in  their  meetings  I  had  broke  the  Act  of 
Parliament,  and  was  lyable  to  the  fine  of  Twenty  pounds  every  time  I  offered 
to  speak  in  their  meetings.     I  told  them  I  had  not  broke  the  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment for  I  was  qualified  according  to  the  Act  to  speak  in  their  meetings,  but 
they  were  not,  and  upon  enquiry  they  will  not  be  found  comprehended  in  that 
Act,  untill  they  fulfill  the  Conditions  required  of  them  therein,  none  of  which 
they  had  done,  so  we  were  constrained  to  leave  their  meeting,  not  having  any 
liberty  to  speak,  nor  would  they  give  any  except  by  violence ;  the  magistrates 
then  present  had  commanded  some  constables  to  turn  them  out  of  doors  by 
violence  who  did  interrupt  me ;  but  these  worthy  persons  thought  not  fit  so 
to  do,  knowing  that  they  would  call  it  persecution.     Immediately  after  we 
came    out   of  the  Quakers'  meeting,  the   President  Squire   Finch  and  bir 
Thomas  and  the  other  Justices,  and  the  whole  Company  above  mentioned  to 
the  number  of  about  sixty  invited  me  to  preach  in  a  place  near    at  hand 
formerly  a  church  but  then  used  for  a  school,  which  I  did.      Mr.   Mall 
minister  of  the  parish  there  having  read  the  prayers.  And  though  we  have  had 


xxx  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

little  success  any  -where  upon  those  called  Foxonian  Quakers,  yet  in  all  places 
•where  we  travelled,  I  hope  in  God  we  have  furnished  the  people  with  good 
and  effectual  antidotes  to  preserve  them  from  the  Infection  of  Quakerism  by 
detecting  their  errors,  both  by  preaching  and  spreading  books  among  their 
vile  errors.  And  by  the  blessing  of  God  have  been  instrumentall  to  keep 
some  from  Quakerism  who  were  in  danger  to  be  infected  with  it.  But 
notwithstanding  the  averseness  of  those  called  Foxonian  Quakers,  everywhere 
generally  (some  few  excepted)  these  formerly  called  Keithian  Quakers  both  in 
E.  and  W.  Jersey  and  Pensylvania  and  at  New  York  did  kindly  receive  us  and 
most  are  come  over  to  the  Church  with  good  zeal,  so  that  in  E.  &  W.  Jersey 
and  some  other  places  above  a  hundred  have  been  baptized  by  Mr.  Talbot  and 
me  and  Mr.  Evans  very  lately  ;  most  of  them  Keithians  formerly  so  called,  and 
their  children :  and  they  greatly  desire  that  good  and  able  ministers  may  be 
sent  among  them,  particularly  at  Burlington  in  W.  Jersey,  at  Shrewsbury  in 
E.  Jersey,  where  Coll.  Morris  lives,  and  who  has  been  very  Instrumental  to 
them,  &  very  kind  to  us  and  hospitable  ;  also  at  Chester  in  Pensylvania  they 
greatly  desire  a  minister,  and  at  New  Castle  by  the  River  Delaware.  In 
Burlington,  the  people  assisted  by  the  county  and  some  others,  especially  by 
the  beneficence  of  Governour  Nicholson,  have  built  a  church  of  Brick  where  I 
preached  two  weeks  ago  before  Lord  Cornbury,  who  was  come  thither  to 
publish  his  Commission  to  be  Governour  of  these  two  provinces  of  E.  &  W. 
Jersey  now  put  into  one.  The  Church  was  very  full  of  People,  and  the  next 
Sunday  after  that,  I  preached  there  again  and  had  a  considerable  auditory. 
As  also  by  the  like  beneficence  of  Governour  Nicholson  and  other  assistants, 
they  have  built  a  Church  of  Brick  at  Chester  in  Pensylvania,  where  both 
Mr.  Talbot  and  I  have  preached  several  times ;  and  so  hath  Mr.  Evans  and 
had  large  auditories,  and  the  people  zealously  affected,  and  among  them 
divers  formerly  called  Keithians.  The  like  beneficence  that  worthy  Patriot 
Governour  Nicholson  hath  given  to  the  people  at  New  Castle  to  build  a 
church  there,  and  to  them  at  Amboy  in  E.  Jersey,  the  like ;  and  to  many 
other  Places  (besides  what  he  hath  done  very  considerable)  in  Virginia  & 
Maryland  to  the  number  at  least  of  fourteen  Churches,  lately  erected  and 
designed  to  be  erected,  all  by  the  Example  and  Encouragement  he  hath 
given  them ;  to  most  of  them  Twenty-five  pounds  a  piece,  and  to  some  more 
according  as  there  was  occasion  :  which  hath  raised  a  great  esteem  of  him 
universally  in  these  Northern  parts  of  America,  and  earnest  wishes  that  he 
may  long  continue  in  the  station  and  dignity  where  he  now  stands,  that 
he  may  be  a  further  Instrument  of  good  both  to  Church  &  State,  as  he 
hath  already  been.  Besides  my  exercises  in  travelling  and  preaching  in  these 
American  parts,  I  have  had  occasion  of  Writing  and  Printing  several  books 
for  the  service  of  God  and  his  Church,  and  in  vindication  of  the  Truth  against 
Quakers  and  some  other  Dissenters,  particularly  my  first  sermon  at  Boston  in 
N.  England,  there  printed,  which  I  hope  you  have  seen,  and  my  vindication  of 
it  in  answer  to  Mr.  Increase  Mather's  exceptions,  a  copy  of  which  I  now  send 
you  :  also  a  printed  sheet  against  an  absurd  opinion  of  Mr.  Samuel  Willard, 
president  of  the  College  of  Cambridge  in  N.  England,  which  is  that  the  sin 
of  Adam  and  of  all  other  men  and  Devils  came  to  pass  of  necessity,  by  God's 
Decree,  and  his  Determining  their  wills  necessarily  to  Commit  them.  The 
which  absurd  opinion  he  hath  endeavoured  to  defend  in  a  late  printed  book 


Keith  and   Talbot.  xxxi 

of  above  four  sheets,  and  which  the  Presbyterians  cry  up  and  esteem,  but  the 
Quakers  dislike ;  I  would  to  God   that  so  they  did  their  own   errors      lo 
which  Book  of  the  said  Mr.  Samuel  Willard,  I  have  now  my  answer  ready  to 
be  printed.     Also  I  have  printed  a  book  in  answer  to  a  most  abusive  book  oi 
one  Caleb  Qusey,  a  Quaker,  against  me,  a  copy  of  which  I  herewith  send  you : 
And  there  is  now  in  the  Press  at  New  York  a  Book  of  mine  against  the  vile 
Blasphemies  contained  in  a  printed  Book  of  one  William  Davis,  with  whom  1 
had  some  dispute  here  at  Philadelphia  some  months  agoe.     I  had  your  kind 
letter  wherein  you  give  me  notice— that  the  Honorable  Corporation  hath 
allowed  Mr.  John  Talbot  to  be  my  associate  in  my  travels, 'and  that  they  give 
£60  per  annum  to  bear  his  charge,  for  which  I  humbly  thank  them  :  he  hath 
been  very  comfortable  to  me  and  serviceable  throughout,  and  is  universally  so 
well  beloved  that  in  every  place  where  they  want  a  Minister  they  have  desired 
to  have  him,  and  especially  at  Burlington  and  in  E.  Jersey.     He  designs  to 
stay  in  these  American  parts,  and  in  my  opinion  I  think  the  Corporation  will 
hardly  find  any  one  fitter  to  send  to  be  their  missionary  (and  to  give  him  the 
best  post  either  on  Loner  Island  or  E.  or  W.  Jersey)  than  he  is,  being  so  well 
known  &  beloved  both  for  his  preaching  and  good  Conversation,  and  civil  and 
oblioin-v  behaviour.     But  I  leave  it  wholly  to  the  discretion  of  the  Honorable 
Corporation  where  to  fix  him  after  his  time  is  expired  with  me,  which  will  be 
about  eight  months  hence,  when  my  two  years  which  I  design  to  travel  in 
these  American  parts  will  be  out;  and,  God  willing,  I  design  to  come  to 
England  in  the  Fleet  that  is  to  sail  from  Virginia  to  London  next  Spring  or 
Summer,  if  God  please  to  spare  my  life  and  give  me  health  and  Preserva- 
tion     In  the  meantime  we  think  to  be  travelling  through  the  several  parts  ot 
these  provinces  of  W.  and  E.  Jersey  and  Long  Island,  and  this  of  Pensylyania, 
where  we  have  had  much  success  and  are  likely  still  to  have  more,  untill  the 
next   Spring  that  I  prepare  for  my  coming  home  to  England.     The   late 
troubles  by°the  Indians  and  French  in  New  England  who  have  killed  several 
English  People  and  carried  away  about  one  hundred  Persons  not  far  from 
Boston  as  we  are  informed  by  letters  from  Boston,  do  block  up  the  way  to  JS. 
England  and  do  awaken  many  here  away.     My  Lord  Cornbury  no  doubt  will 
endeavour  to  put  the  two  Jerseys  in  a  posture  of  defence  as  well  as  JNew 
York  Province ;  but  the  Province  of  Pensylvania,  for  want  of  a  Governor, 
and  the  great  manv  Quakers  who  pretend  they  can't  fight  so  much  as  in  self- 
defence  f  lyes  very'naked  and  open  at  present  both  to  French  and  Indians; 
however  the  three  Quakers  in  E.  Jersey,  nominated  to  be  of  the  Counsel 
there  have  taken  the  Attestation,  and  solemnly  promised  upon  the  Faith  of  a 
Christian  (which  I  think  they  have  not)  to  defend  the  Queen's  majesty  and 
her  Government ;  this  some  other  Quakers  do  dislike  and  construe  to  be  a 
departino-  from  their  ancient  Principle  against  fighting. 

"Worthy  Sir,  I  am  afraid  I  have  troubled  you  with  too  long  a  letter  at 
least  it  is  too  long  to  the  Corporation,  therefore  please  to  give  the  heads  of  it 
to  them  or  the  worth v  Committee  appointed  by  them.  As  you  advised  me 
I  keep  a  Journal  of  all  observable  occurrences  which  I  hope  to  produce  at 

my  return.     I  remain, 

"  Your  obliged  and  affectionate  friend, 

"  George  Keith." 


xxxii  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

[The  reader  will  have  made  some  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Talbot  from  the 
preceding  letters  of  Mr.  Keith ;  but  he  will  learn  much  more  of  his  temper 
and  disposition  from  the  characteristic  communications  of  Mr.  Talbot  himself, 
which,  without  further  preface,  we  present. — Pub.  Com  :] 

Mr.  JohnpTalbot  to  Mr.  Richard  Gillingham. 

g  "  New  York,  24  November,  1702.  1 

"  My  Dear  FkTend  : 

"  I  take  all  opportunities  to  let  you  know  that  I  live,  and 
shall  be  glad  to  hear  as  much  of  you.  Friend  Keith  and  I  have  been  above 
500  miles  together  visiting  the  churches  in  these  parts  of  America,  viz.,  New 
England,  New  Hampshire,  N.  Bristol,  N.  London,  N.  York,  and  the  Jerseys 
as  far  as  Philadelphia.  We  preached  in  all  churches  where  we  came,  and  in 
several  Dissenters'  meetings  such  as  owned  the  Church  of  England  to  be  their 
mother  church,  and  were  willing  to  communicate  with  her  and  to  submit 
to  her  Bishops  if  they  had  opportunity;  I  have  baptized  severall  persons, 
whom  Mr.  Keith  has  brought  over  from  Quakerism,  and  indeed  in  all  places 
where  we  come,  we  find  a  great  ripeness  and  inclination  amongst  all  sorts  of 
people  to  embrace  the  Gospel.  Even  the  Indians  themselves  have  promised 
obedience  to  the  Faith,  as  appears  by  a  conference  that  my  Lord  Cornbury  the 
Governor  here  has  had  with  them  at  Albany :  five  of  their  sachems  or  kings 
told  him  they  were  glad  to  hear  that  the  sun  shined  in  England  again  since 
King  William's  Death ;  they  did  admire  at  first  what  was  come  to  us,  that 
we  should  have  a  squaw  sachem,  viz. :  a  woman-king,  but  they  hoped  she 
would  be  a  good  mother  and  send  them  some  to  teach  them  religion,  and  estab- 
lish Traffick  among  them  that  they  might  be  able  to  purchase  a  coat,  and  not 
go  to  church  in  Bear  Skins,  and  so  they  send  our  Queen  a  present,  ten  Bear 
Skins  to  make  her  fine,  and  one  for  a  muff  to  keep  her  warm ;  after  many 
Presents  and  Compliments  they  signed  the  treaty  and  made  the  Covenant  so 
sure  that  they  said  Thunder  and  Lightning  should  not  break  it  on  their  part, 
if  we  did  not  do  as  the  Lord  Bellamont  did,  throw  it  into  the  sea.  The  papists 
have  been  zealous  and  diligent  to  send  priests  and  Jesuits  to  convert  these 
Indians  to  their  superstitions ;  'tis  wonderfully  acted,  ventured  and  suffered 
upon  that  design  ;  they  have  indeed  become  all  things,  and  even  turned 
Indians  as  it  were  to  gain  them,  which  I  hope  will  provoke  some  of  us  to  do 
our  part  for  our  holy  faith  and  mother  the  Church  of  England.  One  of  their 
Priests  lived  half  a  year  in  their  wigwams  (i.  e.  houses)  without  a  shirt,  and 
when  he  petitioned  my  Lord  Bellamont  for  a  couple,  he  was  not  only  denyed 
but  banished ;  whereas  one  of  ours,  in  Discourse  with  my  Lord  of  London, 
said, '  who  did  his  Lordship  think  would  come  hither  that  had  a  dozen  shirts.' 
If  I  had  their  language  or  wherewith  to  maintain  an  Interpreter,  it  should  be 
the  first  thing  I  should  do,  to  go  amongst  the  thickest  of  'em.  Mr.  Keith 
says  if  he  were  younger  he  would  learn  their  language  and  then  I'm  sure  he 
might  convert  them  sooner  than  the  Heathen  called  Quakers.  Indeed  he  is 
the  fittest  man  that  ever  came  over  for  this  province,  he  is  a  well  study'd 
divine,  a  good  philosopher  and  Preacher,  but  above  all  an  excellent  Disputant, 
especially  against  the  Quakers,  who  use  to  challenge  all  mankind  formerly. 
Now  all  the  Friends  (or  enemies  rather)  are  not  able  to  answer  one  George 


Keith  and  Talbot.  xxxm 

Keith  ;  he  knows  the  Depths  of  Satan  within  them  and  all  the  Doublings  and 
Windings  of  the  Snake  in  the  Grass.  In  short  he  has  become  the  best  cham- 
pion ao-ainst  all  Dissenters,  that  the  Church  ever  had,  and  he's  sett  up  such  a 
Lio-ht  in  their  Dark  places,  that  by  God's  blessing  will  not  be  putt  out.  The 
Clergy  here  have  had  a  sort  of  Convocation  at  the  Instance  and  Charge  of  his 
Excellency  Col.  Nicholson  Governor  of  Virginia ;  we  were  but  seven  in  all ; 
and  a  week  together,  we  sat  considering  of  ways  -and  means  to  propagate  the 
Gospel,  and  to  that  End  we  have  drawn  up  a  scheme  of  the  present  state  ot 
the  Church  in  these  provinces  which  you  shall  see  when  I  have  time  to  tran- 
scribe it,  and  I  shall  desire  you  to  send  it  afterwards  to  my  good  brother 
Kemble.  We  have  great  need  of  a  Bishop  here  to  visit  all  the  churches  to 
ordain  some,  to  confirm  others,  and  bless  all.  We  pray  for  my  good  Lord  of 
London,  we  cannot  have  better  than  he  whilst  he  lives,  therefore  in  the  mean 
time  we  shall  be  very  well  content  with  a  suffragan.  Mr.  Keith's  mission  will 
be  out  about  a  year  hence;  by  that  time  I  hope  to  get  some  tokens  for  my 
o-ood  friends  and  Benefactors.  But  as  for  myself  I  am  so  well  satisfied 
with  a  prospect  of  doin^  good  that  I  have  no  inclination  to  return  for  Eng- 
land ;  however  be  so  kind  as  to  let  me  know  how  you  doe,  which  will  be 
a  comfort  to  me  in  the  wilderness.  You  know  all  my  friends,  pray  let  them, 
especially  my  mother  and  my  sister  Hannah,  know  that  I  am  well,  God 
be  praised,  and  shall  be  glad  to  hear  so  much  of  them.  I  cannot  write  many 
letters,  much  less  one  two  or  three  times  over  as  when  I  had  nothing  else  to  do. 
I  prav  God  bless  you  and  all  my  Friends,  I  desire  the  Benefit  of  their 
prayers,  though  I  cannot  have  that  of  their  good  Company.  I  know  you  11 
take  all  in  good  part  that  comes  from 

"  Your  old  Friend, 

"John  Talbot. 

« -p.  S  — I  have  many  places  offered  me  but  I  know  not  where  I  shall 
settle,  in  mean  time  you  may  direct  your  letters  for  me  to  be  left  with  Mr. 
Bridge  of  Boston  N.  E,  Mr.  Vesey  at  N.  York,  Mr.  Evans  at  Philadelphia  and 
Mr.  Wallace  in  Virginia." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  Mr.  Gillingham. 

"  New  Castle,  10th  April,  1703. 

"Dbab  Sir: 

"God  be  praised  we  are  come  thus  far  in  health  and  safety 
in  our  way  towards  Virginia.  We  are  to  goe  aboard  a  sloop  on  Monday 
moraine  and  hope  to  be  at  James's  Town  next  week.  This  is  a  pretty  town 
on  Delaware  River,  between  Pensylvania  and  Maryland.  There  is  no  Church 
as  yet,  neither  ever  was  an  orthodox  minister  settled  there  ;  but  one  Mr. 
Wilson,  a  Presbyterian,  that  preaches  to  the  People  in  the  Court-House ;  he 
has  left  them  this  last  winter,  but  finding  it  not  for  the  better,  he  means  to 
come  ao-ain  this  summer,  he  has  disobliged  some  people  thereby  which  makes 
them  the  more  favorable  to  the  Church,  which  I  hope  by  God's  bless.ng  to 
found  here  very  speedily.. 


xxxiv  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

"  The  Place  is  very  Pleasant,  and  agreeable  as  most  in  America,  and  would 
be  very  populous,  but  that  there  is  no  settled  ministry  nor  Government,  for 
what  good  does  it  do  people  to  live  in  a  Place  void  of  Gospel  and  Law  too ; 
so  that  several  people  have  moved  and  gone  elsewhere  to  the  Church,  seeing 
the  Church  does  not  come  to  them. 

"  I  Lave  sent  you  a  scheme  of  the  present  state  of  the  Church  in  these 
parts  as  we  have  found  in  our  travels ;  since  it  was  drawn  up  I  have  gone 
with  Mr.  Keith  and  without  him,  about  East  and  West  Jersey  Preaching  and 
baptising  several  scores  of  men,  women  and  children,  encouraging  them  to 
build  Churches  by  promising  them  in  time  ministers  from  England,  and  that 
the  Honorable  Society  would  take  care  to  send  none  but  sober,  good  men 
well  qualified  in  all  respects  for  the  work  of  the  ministry.  I  look  upon  it  that 
the  sending  Mr.  Keith  in  quality  of  a  missionary,  to  travel  for  the  good  of  the 
Churches,  has  been  the  best  service  that  has  been  done  yet  for  the  Church  of 
England  in  these  parts  of  the  world ;  for  he  is  a  general  scholar,  an  able 
disputant  and  a  perfectly  honest  man.  He  is  in  a  word  Hereticorum  malleus, 
and  so  he  had  need;  having  to  deal  with  some  of  the  worst  that  ever 
troubled  the  Church  or  the  World.  Here  is  little  or  no  Government,  and 
people  in  many  places  take  the  liberty  to  say  there  be  three  Gods,  or  no  God, 
and  nothing  is  done  to  them.  Certainly  'tis  better  to  live  where  nothing  is 
lawful  than  where  all  things  are.  Since  I  came  to  be  more  acquainted  with 
the  Quakers  I  have  much  worse  opinion  of  them  than  ever  I  had.  It  appears 
by  William  Penn's  book,  that  he  is  a  greater  Antichrist  than  Julian  the 
apostate.  He  has  said  that  Christ  is  a  finite,  impotent  creature  ;  and  Faith 
in  the  History  of  Christ's  outward  manifestation  is  a  deadly  poyson  these 
latter  ages  have  been  infected  withal,  to  the  destruction  of  holy  Living.  Who 
was  defender  of  the  Faith  when  the  lewd  Heretick  was  made  Governor  and 
Proprietor  of  a  province  ?  Certainly  God  gave  this  Land  into  the  hands  of 
the  English,  that  they  might  Publish  the  Gospell  and  give  knowledge  of 
Salvation  to  these  people ;  and  I  am  sure  the  King  gave  this  to  William 
Penn,  with  Injunction  expressly  in  his  patent,  that  he  should  endeavour  to 
convert  the  Indians  to  the  Faith  ;  but  instead  of  that  he  labours  to  make 
Christians  Heathens ;  and  proclaims  Liberty  and  Priviledge  to  all  that  believe 
in  one  God,  and  yet  when  they  come  here,  they  say  there  are  three  or  none, 
and  yet  be  borne  out  by  the  Quakers  against  the  Christians.  They  pretend 
they  ought  not  to  fight,  yet  I  have  seen  several  commissions,  under  several  of 
their  Governor's  hands  to  kill,  &c.  God  bless  Queen  Anne,  and  defend  her 
that  she  may  defend  the  Faith ;  and  her  Faithful  Councellours  if  they  have 
any  piety  or  policy  I'm  sure  will  take  some  course  with  these  Heathens  and 
Hereticks,  for  if  they  be  let  alone  to  take  the  sword  (which  they  certainly  will 
when  they  think  they  are  strong  enough)  we  shall  perish  with  it,  for  not 
opposing  them  in  due  time.  Notwithstanding  the  Toleration  they  are  subject 
to  all  the  penal  laws,  as  you'll  6nd  if  you  read  the  Act,  and  were  I  in 
England,  and  had  as  much  knowledge  in  Law  as  you,  I  would  bring  Statutes 
and  Judgments  against  them.  I  have  done  so  att  New  York  where  there  is 
a  good  Governor,  my  Lord  Corn  bury. 

"Last  Lord's  day  I  was  at  Burlington,  the  chief  Town  in  West  Jersey, 
where  I  have  preached  many  times  in  a  house  hard  by  the  Quakers'  meeting : 
we  shall  have  one  too,  I  hope,  when  we  return  here  again  from  Virginia, 


Keith  and  Talbot.  xxxv 

where  we  think  to  stay  but  two  or  three  months ;  after  sermon  I  wont  out 
with  the  rest  of  the  people,  and  laid  the  corner  stone  of  Saint  Mary's 
Church.  God  grant  it  may  rise  to  be  the  house  of  God,  and  the  Gate  of 
Heaven  to  them. 

"  It  seems  the  Honorable  Gentlemen  of  the  Corporation  have  considered 
my  Travels  for  the  Service  of  the  Church,  and  have  given  me  a  handsome 
allowance  to  bear  my  charges  with  Mr.  Keith.  Pray  give  them  my  hearty 
service  and  thanks  to  let  them  know  that,  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  shall  make 
it  my  business  to  fulfil  my  mission.  Pray  remember  my  duty  and  Love  to 
my  Good  Mother;  I  hope  she  is  alive  and  well,  let  her  not  want  £10  per 
annum,  as  long  as  I  have  £60  coming  to  me,  which  will  be  due  the  12th 
of  June  next  ensuing.  It  grieves  me  much  to  see  so  many  People  here 
without  the  benefit  of  serving-  God  in  the  wilderness.  I  believe  T  have  been 
solicited  to  tarry  at  twenty  Places  where  they  want  much,  and  are  able  to 
maintain  a  minister,  so  that  he  should  want  nothing;  they  send  to  New 
England  and  call  any  sorry  young  man,  purely  for  want  of  some  good  honest 
clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England.  Many" go  to  the  heathen  meetings  of 
the  ^People  called  Quakers,  because  there  are  no  houses  of  God  in  their 
provinces,  till  at  last  they  come  to  be  bewitched  and  forced  out  of  their  Faith 
and  senses  too.  The  country  is  a  good  land  in  all  parts  of  it,  bating  the 
sudden  change  of  Heat  and  Cold,  which,  if  people  be  not  careful,  they  are 
many  times  the  worse  for.  The  air  is  generally  clear  and  pure.  Nobody 
complains  here  of  the  spleen,  unless  he  has  also  an  evil  conscience  attending. 
I  saw  Mr.  Burley,  Mr.  Scott's  friend,  at  Philadelphia.  I  was  at  his  house, 
he  lives  very  well  and  entertained  me  very  civilly,  and  was  glad  to  hear  of 
his  old  Friends.  I  am  but  poor  at  present,  being  robbed  by  a  negro  of  all 
my  money  out  of  my  Portmanteau ;  the  young  slut  did  not  leave  me  one 
Token  for  myself,  only  I  got  the  bag  again.  But  blessed  be  God  I  never 
wanted  meat  nor  drink,  nor  cloaths  neither  as  yet ;  but  if  you  don't  send  me 
some  cloaths  next  shipping,  instead  of  going  as  they  do  in  White  Hall,  I 
shall  go  as  the  Indians  do.  I  shall  be  content,  let  it  be  as  it  will.  I  might 
have  had  money  enough  here  if  I  would  have  taken  what  People  have  offered 
me,  but  lest  the  Quakers  should  say  truly,  as  they  do  falsely,  that  we  come  for 
money  and  preach  for  hire,  I  preach  the  Gospel  as  freely  as  the  Apostles  did 

to  the  first  Churches. 

"  Virginia,  8th  June. 

"  When  I  wrote  this,  I  missed  the  opportunity  to  send  it  so  I  brought  it 
hither  with  me  so  you  must  take  it  rough  as  it  runs.  We  have  been  now  at 
our  journey's  end  in  N.  Carolina  as  far  as  we  could  goe,  now  we  tack  about  and 
stand  another  way  to  Philadelphia  again,  thus  George  Keith's  home  and  mine 
is  every  where.  Governor  Nicholson  has  been  very  kind  and  generous  to  me. 
I  pray  God  prosper  him  long  in  his  Government ;  he  has  some  enemies  as 
well  as  other  men,  but  none  of  them  can  deny  but  he  is  a  just  magistrate  in 
his  place.  I  have  sent  the  scheme  of  our  Church  affairs  by  one  Mr.  Beverly, 
an  honest  Gentleman  of  this  Country,  who  is  bound  for  England  very 
speedily  ;  you'll  hear  of  him  at  Mr.  Parry's,  the  Virginia  Merchant.  George 
Keith  comes  home  next  year;  then  if  I  can  get  anything  worthy  sending,  I 
shall  have  a  carefull  hand  to  deliver  it.  There  is  one  Mr.  Keyes,  my  Lord  of 
London's  taylor ;   you  may  deal  with  him  to  send  me  a  chest  of  cloathes, 


xxxvi  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

new  or  old,  once  a  year.     Direct  them  or  anything  else  for  me  to  be  left  with 
George  Walker  at  Kecoughtan  in  Virginia.     I  am 

"  Semper  Idem, 

"J.  T." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  Mr.  Giilingham. 

"  Virginia,  3d  May,  1703. 

"Dear  Friend  : 

"Now  at  last  (God  be  praised)  we  are  arrived  at  the 
Haven  where  we  would  be.  Mr.  Keith  is  got  to  his  Daughter's  house,  and  I 
am  got  amongst  my  old  Friends  and  acquaintance  in  these  parts,  who  are 
very  glad  to  see  me  ;  especially  those  of  the  ministry,  who  came  over  along  with 
me.  Here  has  been  great  alterations  in  these  ten  years.  Since  I  was  here 
many  of  my  old  Friends  are  dead,  but  I  have  found  some  new  in  their  stead ; 
amongst  which  is  the  bearer,  Mr.  Robert  Beverly,  who  has  one  of  the  best 
houses  and  plantations  in  this  country,  where  I  reckon  myself  as  it  were,  at 
home,  he  has  been  so  courteous  and  civil.  But  there  is  some  dispute  in  Law 
concerning  the  Title,  and  he  is  come  over  to  see  about  it ;  wherein  I  hope  you 
will  and  can  be  serviceable  to  him,  and  I  shall  take  it  as  done  to  myself.  I 
have  sent  you  several  Letters,  but  have  none  yet  from  nobody.  I  hear  the 
Honorable  Gentlemen  of  the  Society  at  Bow  have  ordered  £60  per  annum 
for  travelling  charges :  £30  I  have  received  upon  Bill.  I  desire  you  to 
receive  the  other  £30  to  buy  Books  for  a  friend  of  mine  here,  who  will  repay 
me.  I  desire  you  to  lay  out  £10  more  in  cloathes  and  shirts  which  I  desire 
neighbour  Leviton  to  buy  for  me,  and  send  them  in  some  ship  to  New  York 
directed  to  me,  to  be  left  at  Mr.  Vesey's,  minister  there.  I  shall  be  glad  to 
hear  how  all  our  Friends  do,  especially  my  good  mother.  Pray  let  me  know 
where  she  is,  and  how  she  does,  let  her  have  decern  minas  upon  my  account 
as  long  as  she  lives.  I  have  sent  the  present  state  of  the  Church,  apud 
Americanos  as  far  as  we  have  gone  ;  the  first  year  from  Dover,  eighty  miles 
eastward  from  Boston  in  New  England,  to  Philadelphia  in  Pensylvania ;  since 
that  scheme  was  finished,  I  have  gone  up  and  down  in  E.  and  W.  Jersey 
preaching  and  baptizing  and  preparing  the  way  for  several  Churches  there. 
At  Amboy  they  are  going  to  build  one,  at  Hopewell  another,  and  at 
Shrewsbury,  Coll.  Morris  is  going  to  build  one  at  his  own  cost  and  charge, 
and  he  will  endow  it  as  he  says,  which  I  don't  doubt,  for  he  is  an  honest 
Gentleman,  and  a  member  of  the  Honorable  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  parts.  I  was  at  Burlington  last  Lady  day,  and  after 
prayers  we  went  to  the  Ground  where  they  were  going  to  build  a  Church, 
and  I  laid  the  first  stone,  which  I  hope  will  be  none  other  than  the  House  of 
God  and  Gate  of  Heaven  to  the  People.  Coll.  Nicholson,  Governor  here, 
was  the  chief  founder  of  this  as  well  as  many  more ;  and  indeed  he  has  been 
the  benefactor  to  all  the  Churches  on  this  land  of  North  America.  God  bless 
this  Church  and  let  them  prosper  that  love  it.     We  called  this  Church  St. 


Keith  and  Talbot.  ixxvii 

Mary's,  it  being  upon  her  day.     January  last  I  was  at  the  opening  of  a 
church  at  Chester;   I  preached  the  first  sermon  that  ever  was  there,  on 
Sunday  the  day  before  the  Conversion  of  St.  Paul,  and  after  much  debate 
what  to  call  it,  I  named  it  St.  Paul's.     This  is  one  of  the  best  Churches  in 
these  American  Parts,  and  a  very  pleasant  place  ;  but  they  have  no  minister 
as  yet,  but  Mr.  Evans  of  Philadelphia  officiated  there  once  in  three  weeks. 
The  Governor  of  Virginia  is  building  several  more  churches  :  Two  at  North 
Carolina,  where  we  are  going  next  week,  and  one  at  New  Castle,  where  in  all 
appearance  we  shall  have  a  considerable  Congregation  of  Christian  People. 
The  place  is  very  well  planted  for  trade  both  by  sea  and  Land.     It  being 
allmost  in  the  midway  between  Philadelphia  and  Maryland  upon  Delaware 
Ever ;  where,  God  willing,  I  intend  to  spend  some  labour  and  pains ;  though 
I  can't  find  in  my  heart  to  settle  in  any  place  for  my  own,  but  to  travel,  as  I 
told  you,  for  the"  good  of  the  Church  in  general.     I  should  be  glad  to  hear 
how  you  did  about  the  Centurion,  and  how  matters  of  account  stand  between 
us.     Tis  good  to  reckon  some  time  if  we  never  intend  to  pay,  though  I  hope 
to  be  out  of  debt  to  the  world.     Yet  I  shall  always  count  myself  obliged  to 
my  friend.     I  have  been  with  George  Keith  a  year  next  Junel2th,  then  my 
£60  becomes  due.     This  has  been  a  sickly  year  apud  Americanos,  but  God 
be  praised  I  have  had  good  health  all  this  time.     And  I  believe  I  have  done 
the  Church  more  service  since  I  came  hither  than  I  would  in. seven  years  in 
England.     Perhaps  when  I  have  been  here  six  or  seven  years,  I  may  make  a 
Trip  home  to  see  some  Friends  (for  they  won't  come  to  me)  but  then  it  will 
be  Ammo  Revertendi,  for  I  have  given  myself  up  to  the  service  of  God  and 
his    Church  apud  Americanos  ;  and  I  had  rather  dye  in  the  service  than 
desert  it.     Pray  give  my  service  and  thanks  to  the  Honorable  Society  for 
their  Generous  Allowance  to  bear  my  charges.     I  shall  take  care  to  fulfill  my 
mission,  and  goe  as  far  with  it  as  any  body  that  they  shall  send  forth.     We 
came   hither  in  a  sloop  from  Pensylvania,  when  we  were  out  of  Delaware 
River,  a  North  west  wind  took  us  and  carried  us  out  to  sea  and  lost  us  ten  or 
twelve  hours  so  as  I  was  never  lost  in  my  life ;  'tis  true  sometimes,  as  the 
sailor  sayes,  the  last  storm  was   the  worst.     The  sea  never  got  any  thing 
before  by  my  sickness,  but  then  I  was  so  sick  that  I  had  much  adoe  to  keep 
my  bowels  within  my  body ;  we  arrived  safe  at  last,  God  be  praised ;  but  I 
shall  be  hardly  catched  on  board  so  small  a  vessel  agaiu  in  a  good  while. 
We  are  going  now  by  land  to  Pamplico  in  North  Carolina,  a  place  where 
there  never  was  any  minister  but  only  one  Dan.  Brett,  a  scandalous  Fellow, 
that  has  done  more  harm  than  good  every  where.     He  was  the  worst  I  think 
that  ever  came  over. 

"  We  want  a  great  many  good  ministers  here  in  America,  especially  in 
those  parts  mentioned  in  the  scheme ;  but  we  had  better  have  none  at  all 
than  such  scandalous  beasts  as  some  make  themselves ;  not  only  the  worst  of 
ministers  but  of  men.  If  you  know  none  so  good  as  to  come,  I  hope  you  will 
find  them  that  are  willing  to  send.  Some  good  books  would  do  very  well  in 
the  mean  while.  I  am  sure  there  is  no  want  of  them  in  England,  they  have 
enouo-h  and  to  spare.  Indeed  we  have  had  many  of  Dr.  Bray's  books  and  I 
could  wish  we  had  more.  But  his  way  and  method  is  not  the  best  for  this 
people  that  we  have  to  do  withal,  Quakers  and  Quakers'  friends  ;  to  most  of 
them,  nothing  but  controversy  will  serve  their  turn,  'tis  a  hard  matter  to 


xxxviii  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

persuade  to  the  Baptismal  Covenant,  on  which  the  Doctor  has  writ  three  or 
four  Books  to  the  folio,  that  they  may  be  ever  learning  and  yet  never  be  able 
to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Creed,  the  Lord's  Prayer,  nor  the  Ten 
Commandments. 

"  Those  that  we  have  to  deal  with  are  a  sharp  and  inquisitive  people :  they 
are  not  satisfied  with  one  Doctor's  opinion  but  must  have  something  that  is 
authentick  if  we  hope  to  prevail  with  them. 

"  We  should  have  some  Common  Prayer  Books  new  or  old,  of  all  sorts 
and  sizes  with  the  thirty-nine  articles,  and  some  books  of  Homily's,  to  set  up 
the  worship  and  service  of  God  till  we  have  ministers  ;  some  of  Dr.  Comber's 
Books  would  be  of  right  good  use  here  to  give  those  that  ask  a  Reason  of  all 
things  contained  in  our  English  Liturgies ;  which  has  still  stood  the  Best  Test 
of  all  adversaries  that  were  not  blind  and  deaf.  Above  all,  Mr.  Lesly,  the 
Author  of  the  '  Snake  in  the  Grass,'  has  given  Quakerism  a  deadly  wound,  I 
hope  never  to  be  healed  :  and  his  five  Discourses  about  Baptism  and 
Episcopacy  have  brought  many  to  the  Church.  We  want  a  1000  of  them 
to  dispose  of  in  the  way  that  we  goe.  I  use  to  take  a  wallet  full  of  Books 
and  carry  them  100  miles  about,  and  disperse  them  abroad,  and  give  them  to 
all  that  desired  them;  which  in  due  time  will  be  of  good  service  to  the 
Church;  'tis  a  comfort  to  the  people  in  the  Wilderness  to  see  that  some  body 
takes  care  of  them.  There  is  a  time  to  sow  and  a  time  to  reap,  which  last  I 
don't  desire  in  this  world.  I  might  have  money  enough  of  the  people  in 
many  places,  but  I  would  never  take  any  of  those  that  we  goe  to  proselyte, 
especially  amongst  the  Quakers  ;  I  resolved  to  work  with  my  hands  rather 
than  they  should  say  I  was  a  hireling,  and  come  for  money,  which  they  are 
very  apt  to  do.  The  Governour  of  Virginia,  my  old  Friend,  has  been  very 
generous  to  us,  and  has  taken  care  that  nothing  be  wanting  to  us  while  we 
are  in  his  Territories ;  if  there  were  such  another  Governour  in  America,  it 
would  be  much  cheaper  travelling  for  the  missionaries.  But  alas  !  I  am 
afraid  we  shall  lose  him  before  we  get  such  another.  There  are  a  parcel  of 
men  in  the  world,  that  are  given  to  change,  and  don't  know  when  they  are  well 
themselves,  nor  can't  let  others  alone  that  do.  But  more  of  this  another 
time,  I  have  writ  enough  to  tire  you  and  myself  too  :  you  must  take  it  as  it 
is.  I  have  something  else  to  do  now  than  write  letters  twice  over;  rough 
as  it  runs  I  hope  you'll  take  it  in  good  part.  With  my  Love  and  Service  to 
all  Friends,  I  desire  your  Prayers,  and  rest 
"Your  real  Friend, 

"  And  servant, 

"J.  T." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. — Extract 

"  Philadelphia,  1st  September,  1703. 

"Sir: 

"  Mr.  Keith  and  I  have  preached  the  Gospel  to  all  sorts  and 
conditions  of  men,  we  have  baptized  several  scores  of  men,  women  and  chil- 


Keith  and  Talbot.  xxxix 

dren,  chiefly  those  of  his  old  Friends  (the  rest  are  hardened  just  like  the  Jews 
who  please  not  God  and  are  contrary  to  all  men),  we  have  gathered  several 
hundreds  together  for  the  Church  of  England,  and  what  is  more,  to  build 
houses  for  her  service.  There  are  four  or  five  going  forward  now  in  this  pro- 
vince and  the  next.  That  at  Burlington  is  allmost  finished.  Mr.  Keith 
preached  the  first  sermon  in  it  before  my  Lord  Cornbury,  whom  the  Queen 
has  made  Governour  of  Jersey  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  Christian  people. 
Churches  are  going  up  amain  where  there  were  never  any  before.  They  are 
going  to  build  three  at  N.  Carolina  to  keep  the  people  together,  lest  they 
should  fall  into  Heathenism,  Quakerism  &c.  &c,  and  three  more  in  these 
lower  counties  about  New  Castle,  besides  that  at  Chester,  Burlington  and 
Amboy. 

"  And  I  must  be  so  just  to  a  member  of  your  Society,  his  Excellency 
Francis  Nicholson,  Governour  of  Virginia,  as  to  acknowledge  him  to  be  the 
Prime  Benefactor  and  Founder,  in  chief  of  them  all ;  so  generous  has  he  been 
to  the  church ;  so  just  to  the  State,  so  far  from  taking  of  bribes,  that  he  will 
not  receive  a  present  from  any,  great  or  small.  Therefore  we  have  hopes  that 
it  will  please  God  and  the  Queen  to  give  him  time  to  perfect  the  good  works 
that  he  has  begun  ;  that  he  may  see  the  Church  prosper  and  prevail  against 
all  her  enemies,  which  I  dare  say  is  all  that  he -desires ;  being  zealous  for  the 
honour  of  the  Church  of  England  which  is  the  mother  of  us  all.  Upon  her 
account  it  was  that  I  was  willing  to  travel  with  Mr.  Keith,  indeed  I  was  loath 
he  should  go  alone,  now  he  was  for  us,  who  I'm  sure  would  have  had  fol- 
lowers enough  had  he  come  against  us.  Besides,  I  had  another  end  in  it,  that 
by  his  free  Conversation  and  Learned  Disputes  both  with  his  Friends  and  Ene- 
mies, I  have  Learnt  better  in  a  year  to  deal  with  the  Quakers,  then  I  could  by 
several  years'  study  in  the  schools.  We  want  more  of  his  narratives  which 
would  be  of  good  use  here  where  we  often  meet  with  the  Quakers  and  their 
Books.  More  of  his  answers  to  Robert  Barklay  would  come  well  to  the  clergy 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  &c.  Barklay's  book  has  done  most  mischief,  there- 
fore Mr.  Keith's  answer  is  more  requisite  and  necessary.  Mr.  Keith  has  done 
great  service  to  the  Church  where  ever  he  has  been,  by  Preaching  and  disput- 
ing, publicly  and  from  house  to  house  ;  he  has  confuted  many  (especially  the 
Anabaptists) ;  by  Labor  and  Travel  night  and  day,  by  writing  and  printing  of 
books  mostly  at  his  own  charge  and  costs  and  giving  them  out  freely,  which 
has  been  very  expensive  to  him.  By  these  means  People  are  much  awakened, 
and  their  Eyes  opened  to  see  the  good  old  way,  and  they  are  very  well  pleased 
to  find  the  Church  at  last  take  such  care  of  her  children.  For  it  is  a  sad 
thing  to  consider  the  years  that  are  past,  how  some  that  were  born  of  the 
English,  never  heard  of  the  name  of  Christ,  how  many  others  were  baptized  in 
his  name  and  follow  away  to  Heathenism,  Quakerism,  and  Atheism  for  want 
of  confirmation. 

"  It  seems  the  strangest  thing  in  the  world  and  'tis  thought  History  can  not 
parallel  it,  that  any  place  has  received  the  Word  of  God  so  many  years, 
so  many  hundred  Churches  built,  so  many  thousand  proselytes  made,  and 
still  remain  altogether  in  the  wilderness  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd.  The 
poor  church  of  America  is  worse  off  in  this  respect  than  any  of  her  adver- 
saries. 

"  The  Presbyterians  here  come  a  great  way  to  lay  hands  one  on  another ; 


xl  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

but  after  all  I  think  they  had  as  good  stay  at  home,  for  the  good  they  do. 
The  Independents  are  called  by  their  Sovereign  Lord  the  People.  The  Ana- 
baptists and  Quakers  pretend  to  the  spirit.  But  the  poor  Church  has  no  body 
upon  the  spot  to  comfort  or  confirm  her  children.  No  body  to  ordain  several! 
that  are  willing  to  serve,  were  they  authorized  for  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
Therefore  thef  fall  back  again  into  the  Herd  of  the  Dissenters,  rather  than 
they  will  be  at  the  Hazard  and  Charge  to  go  as  far  as  England  for  orders  ;  so 
that  we  have  seen  severall  Counties,  Islands  and  Provinces,  which  have 
hardly  an  Orthodox  minister  amongst  them,  which  might  have  been  supplied 
had  we  been  so  happy  as  to  see  a  Bishop  or  Suffragan  apud  Americanos. 

"  We  count  ourselves  happy,  and  indeed  so  we  are,  under  the  protection  and 
Fatherly  Care  of  the  Right  Rev.  Father  in  God,  Henry  Lord  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, and  we  are  all  satisfied  that  we  can't  have  a  greater  Friend  and  Patron 
than  himself.  But  alas  !  there  is  such  a  great  Gulph  fixt  between  us,  that  we 
can't  pass  to  him  nor  he  to  us  ;  but  may  he  not  send  a  Suffragan  ?  I  believe 
I  am  sure  there  are  a  great  many  learned  and  Good  men  in  England,  and  I 
believe  also  did  our  Gracious  Queen  Anne  but  know  the  necessities  of  her 
many  good  subjects  in  these  parts  of  the  world,  she  would  allow  £1000  per 
annum*  rather  than  so  many  souls  should  suffer  ;  and  then  it  would  be  a  hard 
case  if 'there  should  not  be  found  one  amongst  so  many  pastors  and^Doctors 
(de  tot  millions,  unus  qui  transiens,  adjuvet  nos)  ;  meanwhile  I  don't  doubt 
but  some  learned  and  good  man  would  go  further,  and  do  the  Church  more 
service  with  £100  per  annum  than  with  a  coach  and  six,  100  years  hence.  _ 

"  The  Reverend  author  of  the  '  Snake  in  the  Grass'  has  done  great  service 
here  by  his  Excellent  Book ;  no  body  that  Lknow  since  the  Apostles'  dayes  has 
managed  controversie  better  against  all  Jews,  Heathens  and  Heretics  ;  many 
here  have  desired  to  see  the  author,  however  I  hope  we  shall  not  want  his 
works,  especially  against  the  Quakers,  and  the  five  discourses  which  have  con- 
vinced many,  and  are  much  desiderated. 

"  Those  boxes  of  books  that  were  sent  over  last  year,  Mr.  Keith  has  disposed 
of  in  their  several  Places  as  directed.  I  have  carried  of  the  small  sort,  in 
a  wallet,  some  hundred  miles,  and  distributed  them  to  the  people  as  I  saw 
need.  They  have  been  long  upon  the  search  for  truth  in  these  parts,  they  see 
through  the  vanity  and  pretences  of  all  Dissenters,  and  generally  tend  directly 
to  the^Church.  Now  is  the  time  of  harvest,  we  want  a  hundred  hands  for  the 
work,  meanwhile  two  or  three,  that  are  well  chosen,  will  do  more  good  there 
than 'all  the  rest;  for  we  find  by  sad  experience  that  people  are  better  where 
they  have  none,  than  where  they  have  an  ill  minister.  Next  unto  God,  our 
eyes  are  upon  the  Corporation  for  help  in  this  heavy  case.  I  dare  say 
nothing  has  obtained  more  reputation  to  the  Church  and  nation  of  England 
abroad'than  the  honorable  society  for  Reformation  of  manners  and  the  Rever- 
end and  honorable  corporation  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts. 

"  The  Quakers  compass  sea  and  land  to  make  proselytes  ;  they  send  out 
yearly  a  parcel  of  vagabond  Fellows  that  ought  to  be  taken  up  and  put  in  Bed- 
lam rather  than  suffered  to  go  about  raving  and  railing  against  the  Laws  and 
Orders  of  Christ  and  his  Church ;  and  for  why  ?  Their  preaching  is  of  cursing 
and  Lyes,  poysoning  the  souls  of  the  people  with  damnable  errors  and  heresies, 
and  not  content  with  this  in  their  own  Territories  of  Pensylvania,  but  they 
travel  with  mischief  over  all  parts  as  far  as  they  can  goe,  over  Virginia  and 


Keith  and  Talbot.  xli 

Maryland,  and  again  through  Jersey  and  New  York  as  far  as  New  England; 
but  there  they  stop,  for  they  have  prevented  them  by  good  Laws  and  due 
Execution  ;  Fas  est  ab  hoste  doceri.    Sir 

"  Your  most  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

"John  Talbot" 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"  Philadelphia,  7th  April,  1704. 

"  W  orthy  Sir  '. 

"  Mr.  Keith  has  fought  the  good  fight,  finished  his  race, 
bravely  defended  the  Faith,  done  the  Church  of  Christ  true  and  laudable 
service  which  I  trust  will  be  regarded  here  and  rewarded  hereafter.     1  may 
say  he'has  done  more  for  the  Church  than  any,  yea  than  all  that  have  been 
before  him.    He  came  out  worthy  of  his  mission  and  of  the  Gospell  ot  Ghnst. 
Taking   nothing  of  the   Heathen  that  he  came  to  proselyte ;    besides    his 
ordinary  or  rather  extraordinary  travels,  his  preaching  excellent  sermons  upon 
all  occasions,  his  disputes  with  all  sorts  of   Heathens  and  Hereticks  (who 
superabound  in  these  parts ;— Africa  has  not  more  monsters  than  America). 
He  has  written  or  printed  ten  or  a  dozen  Books  and  Sermons,  much  at  ins 
own  charge,  and  distributed  them  freely;  which  are  all  excellent  in  their 
kind  and  have  done  good  service  all  along  shore.     Now,  since  friends  must 
part' I  pray  God,  shew  some  token  upon  him  for  good,  that  he  may  arrive 
safe 'in  England  where  he  would  be,  that  all  his  adversaries  may  see  it,  and 
be  ashamed  of  their  impious  omens,  &c.     I  have  one  prayer  more  to  God  tor 
the  sake  of  his  Church  in  the  deserts,  viz. :  That  the  Reverend  and  Honora- 
ble Corporation  may  find  one  amongst  the  thousands  of  the  Reverend  and 
Learned  Clergv  of  England,  worthy,  honest,  and  willing  to  succeed   that  the 
People  of  the  Lord  may  not  be  scattered  abroad  in  the  wilderness  like  sheep 
without  a  Shephard.  .    . 

"  As  for  the  affairs  of  the  Church  here,  wee  have  said  much  formerly  in 
Schemes  and  Letters,  but  have  heard  no  great  matter  how  or  whether 
received;  therefore  I  don't  mean  to  be  tedious  at  present;  something  1  thins 
I  should  say  because  vou  desired  me  to  keep  a  Journall.  To  begin  then 
where  we  began  our  Travells,  at  Boston  New  England.  There  is  one  Church 
and  there  were  two  ministers,  both  sober  and  discreet  men  m  the  mam,  and  1 
believe  would  have  done  good  service  at  a  distance;  they  were  both  our 
Friends,  and  I  could  wish  they  had  been  so  to  one  another,  or  that  those 
representations  were  true  that  are  now  gone  to  his  Grace  and  to  the  Kight 
Reverend  Bishops  of  the  Corporation,  which  say  they  parted  good  Jmends ; 
but  to  say  the  Truth  as  it  is,  there  is  such  a  variance  that  the  Church  can  t 
flourish  between  them.  Mr.  Vesey  does  very  well  with  his  people  at  *lew 
York-  Mr.  Honyman  is  arrived  but  not  yet  settled,  because  he  had  been 
scandalized  by  an  evil  report  which  we  have  no  reason  to  believe.  1  should 
not  have  forgott  my  honest  brother  Lockier  of  Rhode  Island,  who  is  very 
industrious  when  well.     The  Quakers  themselves  as  far  as  I  can  hear,  have 


c 


xlii  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical    Collections. 

no  evil  to  say  of  that  Priest.  Nova  Cesarea  or  New  Jersey  has  been  most 
unhappy ;  there  is  not,  nor  ever  was,  an  orthodox  minister  settled  amongst 
them.  But  there  is  one  Mr.  Alexander  Innes  a  man  of  great  Piety  and 
Probity,  who  has  by  his  Life  and  Doctrine  preached  the  Gospell,  and  rightly 
and  duly  administered  the  Holy  Sacraments.  We  hope  he  will  find  favour 
with  the  Noble  Corporation  because  he  is  worthy,  and  has  need  of  it ;  as  the 
people  have  need  of  him  and  are  not  so  able  or  willing  as  we  could  wish  to 
support  the  ministry  ; — 'tis  pity  those  hands  should  be  put  to  dig  that  are  fitt 
to  cultivate  the  vineyard.  I  come  now  to  Philadelphia  where  there  is  now 
none  but  Mr.  Evans  a  very  sober,  decent  man,  who  has  doubled  his  diligence 
since  Mr.  Thomas  departed ;  he  does  the  whole  service  of  the  Church  now, 
and  is  more  constant  and  frequent  in  preaching  and  performing  divine  service 
than  any  that  I  know  upon  the  Continent ;  but  the  school  is  supplyed  here 
by  a  Swede  untill  one  can  be  sent  from  England,  which  I  hope  will  not  be 
long.  Now  there  is  a  good  salary  paid,  and  it  would  be  a  very  good  school 
were  there  but  a  good  master-,  'tis  hard  that  the  Heathens  should  have 
schools  in  the  town,  and  the  Christians  not  one.  The  Church  at  Chester  is 
almost  finished,  and  one  at  New  York  is  going  to  be  reared,  both  by  the 
care  and  industry  of  Mr.  Jasper  Yeates,  and  all  by  the  generous  bounty  of 
Governour  Nicholson.  God  send  us  such  a  Publick  Spirited  Minister  in  the 
Church  here,  as  he  is  always  and  everywhere  the  best  Friend  and  Patron  of 
the  Church,  the  Crown  and  Country  that  ever  came  over.  I  dare  say  this 
because  I  know  it  to  be  true,  having  had  the  honor  to  know  his  Excellency 
many  years,  though  1  know  he  has  as  many  adversaries  as  the  Church  herself 
and  the  more  I  dare  say  upon  her  account.  .  .  .  We  received  a  box  of 
books,  by  the  hands  of  his  Honor  Governour  Evans,  written  by  the  Reverend 
Author  of  the  "  Snake  in  the  Grass ;"  we  know  not  who  sent  them,  but, 
being  directed  for  Mr.  Keith,  we  ventured  to  lend  them  abroad  for  the 
Publick  good,  and  pray  God  to  bless  the  Author  and  the  Donors.  There 
were  the  first  and  seeond  defence  of  the  Snake  &c.  but  not  the  Snake  itself; 
and  four  of  his  five  discourses,  but  not  that  of  Episcopacy,  which  are  most 
desiderated  here ;  we  cannot  purchase  either  of  those  books  at  any  rate ;  we 
want  1000  Common  Prayer  Books ;  we  can  hardly  get  one  in  America,  and 
when  we  do  find  one,  it  costs  five  times  as  much  as  it's  worth  in  England. 
The  Church  wants  to  be  published  here,  which  can't  be  done  without  the 
Liturgy,  and  something  to  shew  for  what  we  say.  Mr.  Tate's  and  Mr. 
Brady's  Psalms  have  obtained  here,  and  would  do  so  every  where,  if  they 
had  in  them  the  Bishop  of  London-derry's  book  of  the  "  Inventions  of  Men 
in  the  Worship  of  God  and  Dr.  Beveridge's  sermons  of  the  "  Excellency  of 
the  Common  Prayer,"  which  have  gone  a  great  way  here  to  save  the  Church. 
I  can't  tell  what  would  do  more  except  the  Doctors  should  come  themselves  ; 
however  I  hope  they  will  send  those  books  we  mentioned  with  some  others  in 
the  scheme,  as  Mr.  Brent's  of  Bristol  against  Lying,  which  is  not  to  be 
forgotten  at  this  time  and  place.  I'm  sorry  Mr.  Barclay  returned  so  soon 
from  his  post  at  Braintree  in  New  England,  the  poor  Christians  are  mightily 
opprest  there  by  a  sort  of  Hypocrites,  who  pretend  to  receive  the  Church,  but 
indeed  are  her  mortal  enemies  ;  their  College  also  has  gone  a  great  way  to 
poison  this  country  with  Damnable  doctrines,  which  appears  by  the  Learned 
books  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Keith  to  be  worse  than  Heathenism  or  Atheism ;  we 


Keith  and  Talbot.  xliii 

hope  that  care  will  be  taken  in  this  heavy  case  that  some  Grave  and  Wise 
Tutor  and  Philosopher  will  be  sent  to  preside  at  the  College  of  Cambridge  in 
New  England  to  teach  them  humanity  in  the  first  place,  that  in  time  they 
mio-ht  be  brought  to  Christian  Principles  and  Practices ;  for  at  present  they 
are3  not  much  better  than  the  Quakers,  and  in  the  latter  particular,  much 
worse.  If  I  had  an  Estate  I  could  not  have  laid  it  out  better  than  in  the 
service  of  God,  apud  Americanos  along  with  Mr.  Keith,  who  is  a  true  son  of 
the  Church  of  Eno-land,  sound  in  faith  and  holy  in  Life,  whom  I  love  and 
reverence  as  my  Father  and  Master,  and  shall  be  as  Loath  to  part  with  him 
as  if  he  were  so  indeed.  Therefore  I  am  the  more  obliged  to  the  Reverend 
and  Honorable  Society  for  their  generous  allowance  to  me,  that  I  might  not 
be  burdensome  to  him  nor  to  others,  but  beneficial  to  all  as  far  as  we  could 
goe.  God  be  praised  a  Door  is  opened  to  the  Gospel,  and  the  true  light 
shines  to  them  in  the  Wilderness,  but  there  are  many  adversaries ;  and  now 
our  Champion  is  gone,  we  must  make  a  running  fight  out  by  Gods  blessing 
and  his  books.  I  shall  do  my  best.  I  mean  to  gather  up  the  arrows  that  he 
has  shot  so  well  at  the  mark,  and  throw  them  again  where  there  is  most 

need. 

"  Your  most  humble 

"  And  obedient  servant, 

"John  Talbot." 


[The  foregoing  letters  of  Messrs.  Keith  and  Talbot  will  have  prepared  the 
reader  for  the  Journal  of  the  former,  to  which  allusion  is  made  in  the  letters. 
This  Journal  was  the  official  report  of  the  Society's  agent,  and  on  its  state- 
ments the  Society  acted  in  selecting  the  first  missionary  stations  in  what  is 
□ow  the  United  States.— Pub.  Committee.] 


JOURNAL. 

OF 

T   R  A  Y   E    L   S 

FROM 

NEW-HAMPSHIRE 

T  O 

CARATUCK, 

On  the  Continent  of 

NORTH-AMERICA. 


B  Y 

GEORGE     KEITH,    A.M., 

Late  Missionary  from  the  Society  for  the  Propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts;  and  now  Rector 
of  Edburton  in   Sussex. 


LONDON, 

Printed  by  Joseph   Downing,   for    Brao.  Aylmer   at  the    Three-Pigeons, 
over-aoainst  the  Royal-Exchange  in   Cornhill,  1706. 


TO     THE 

Most  Reverend   Father  in    G  0  D 

THOMAS, 

Lord   Arch-Bishop  of 

CANTERBURY,  &c, 

PRESIDENT; 

And  to  the  rest  of  the 

MEMBERS 

OF     THE 

Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts  ; 

This    JOURNAL 
Is  most  humbly  Dedicated 
By  their  late  Missionary 

George   Keith. 


A 

JOURNAL 

OF     THE 

trawcU   and   UXint0tra 

Of  the  Reverend 

GEORGE  KEITH,  A.M. 

THE  Twenty  eighth  Day  of  April  1*702,  I  sailed  from  Cowes  in  the 
Isle  of  Wight,  in  one  of  the  Queens  Ships,  called  the  Centurion, 
whereof  Captain  Heme  was  Commander,  who  was  very  Civil  to  me, 
bound  for  Boston  in  New-England  ;  and  by  the  good  Providence  of 
God  we  arriv'd  at  Boston  the  Eleventh  day  of  June,  our  whole  time  of  Passage 
beino-  Six  Weeks  and  one  Day.  Colonel  Dudley  Governour  of  New-England 
and  Colonel  Povie  Deputy  Governour,  and  Mr.  Morris,  with  all  whom  we  sailed 
in  the  same  ship,  were  so  generous  and  kind  both  to  Mr.  Patnck  Gordon 
Missionary  for  Long-Island,  and  to  me,  that  at  their  desire  we  did  Eat  at  their 
Table  all  "the  Voyage  on  free  cost. 

At  mv  Arrival  the  Reverend  Mr.  Samuel  Miles,  and  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Christopher  Bridge,  both  Ministers  of  the  Church  of  England  Congregation 
at  Boston  did  kindly  receive  me  and  the  two  ministers  in  company  with  me, 
and  we  lo'dg'd,  and  were  kindly  entertained  in  their  Houses,  during  our  abode 

a  June  li  1*702  being  Sunday,  at  the  request  of  the  abovenamed  Ministers 
of  the  Church  of  England,,  I  Preached  in  the  Queens  Chappel  at  Boston,  on 
Eph.  2.  20,  21,  22.  where  was  a  large  Auditory,  not  only  ot  Church  People, 
but  of  many  others.  .  „   , 

Soon  after,  at  the  request  of  the  Ministers  and  Vestry,  and  others  of  the 
Auditory,  my  Sermon  was  Printed  at  Boston.  It  contained  m  it,  towards  the 
conclusion,  Six  plain  brief  Rules  (Vide  Appendix),  which  told  my ^Aujtory 
did  well  a^ree  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  they  being  well  observed  and  put 
in  Practice"  would  bring  all  to  the  Church  of  England  who  dissented  from  her. 


6  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

This  did  greatly  Alarm  the  Independent  Preachers  at  Boston.  Whereupon 
Mr.  Increase  Mather,  one  of  the  chief  of  them,  was  set  on  Work  to  Print 
against  my  Sermon,  as  accordingly  he  did,  and  Published  a  small  Treatise 
against  the  said  six  Rules,  wherein  he  laboured  to  prove  them  all  false  and 
contrary  to  Scripture,  but  did  not  say  any  thing  against  the  Body  of  my 
Sermon.  And  not  long  after,  I  Printed  a  Treatise  in  Vindication  of  these  Six 
Rules,  in  answer  to  his,  wherein  I  shewed  the  invalidity  of  his  objections 
against  them.  This  I  had  Printed  at  New  York,  the  Printer  at  Boston  not 
daring  to  Print  it,  lest  he  should  give  offence  to  the  Independent  Preachers 
there.  After  it  was  Printed,  the  printed  Copies  of  it  were  sent  to  Boston, 
and  dispersed  both  over  New-England  and  the  other  parts  of  North  America. 

June  21,  Sunday.  I  preached  a  second  Sermon  at  the  Queens  Chappel, 
on  Rom.  10.  6,  7,  8,  9. 

June  28,  Sunday.  The  Reverend  Mr.  John  Talbot,  who  had  been  Chap- 
lain in  the  Centurion,  Preached  there. 

By  the  advice  of  my  good  Friends  at  Boston,  and  especially  of  Colonel 
Joseph  Dudley,  Governour  of  Boston  Colony,  I  chose  the  abovenamed  Mr. 
John  Talbot  to  be  my  Assistant  and  Associate  in  my  Missionary  Travels  and 
Services,  he  having  freely  and  kindly  offered  himself,  and  whom  I  freely  and 
kindly  received,  and  with  the  first  occasion  I  wrote  to  the  Society,  praying 
them,  to  allow  of  him  to  be  my  Fellow-Companion  and  Associate  in  Travels, 
&c,  which  they  accordingly  did,  and  indeed  Divine  Providence  did  well  order 
it,  for  he  proved  a  very  loving  and  faithful  Associate  to  me,  and  was  very 
helpful  to  me  in  all  respect,  and  was  well  approved  and  esteemed  every 
where,  both  with  respect  to  his  Preaching  and  Living,  in  the  several  places 
where  we  Travelled. 

July  1,  Wednesday.  I  went  from  Boston  to  Cambridge  in  New-England, 
accompanied  with  my  associate  Mr.  Talbot,  and  Mr.  Bridge  abovenamed,  and 
I  was  present  at  the  Commencement,  which  was  that  very  day  :  and  having 
heard  Mr.  Samuel  Willard,  President  of  the  College,  at  the  said  Commence- 
ment maintain  some  Assertions  that  seemed  to  me  very  unsound,  the  next 
day  I  writ  a  Letter  to  him  in  Latin,  shewing  my  great  dislike  of  those  his 
assertions,  and  after  some  days  I  sent  it  to  him  ;  after  this,  at  the  request  of 
some  there,  I  put  it  into  English,  and  had  it  Printed  at  New  York,  and 
dispersed  into  many  other  places  of  America,  as  well  as  of  New  England. 

The  Assertions  abovenamed  of  the  said  Mr.  Samuel  Willard,  that  seemed 
to  me  very  unsound,  were  these :  I.  That  the  Fall  of  Adam,  by  virtue  of 
God's  Decree,  was  necessary.  II.  That  every  free  act  of  the  Reasonable 
Creature  is  determined  by  God,  so  that  whatever  the  Reasonable  Creature 
acteth  freely,  it  acteth  the  same  necessarily. 

Not  long  after  my  Letter  to  him  was  Published  and  dispersed,  he  Printed 
a  reply  to  it,  in  a  small  Treatise  containing  about  four  Sheets,  where  notwith- 
standing his  many  shufflings,  and  seeming  to  disown  the  charge,  he  very 
roundly  and  plainly  not  only  asserts  all  that  I  had  charged  on  him,  but  much 
more,  as  appears  from  his  express  Words,  Page  50  of  the  said  Reply,  Where 
he  saith,  Nor  shall  I  part  with  my  opinion  ?  viz.  that  the  Origine  and  Cause 
of  the  necessity  of  the  first  Sin  is  more  to  be  derived  from  God,  than  from 
Man  himself  Nay  further,  (saith  he)  that  the  whole  cause  of  the  futurity 
of  it  is  owing  to  the  divine  Decree,  though  still  the  whole  sin  and  blame  of  it 


George  Keith's  Journal.  * 

is  due  to  Adam,  for  that  in  the  accomplishing  of  his  Apostacy,  he  abused  his 
own  free  Will,  and  Voluntarily  transgressed  the  Command. 

After  some  time  that  bis  Reply  to  my  Letter  was  Printed,  I  published  in 
Print  an  answer  to  his  Reply,  my  answer  contains  about  six  Sheets.  My 
Endeavours  in  these  matters,  by  the  Blessing  of  God,  had  a  good  effect  in 
quieting  the  Minds  of  many  People  in  these  parts,  and  bringing  them  over  to 
the  Church,  in  East-Jersey,  especially  at  Elizabeth  Town  there.  Such  who 
desire  to  read  both  my  Answer  to  Mr.  Samuel  Willard,  and  my  letter,  and 
also  my  Answer  to  Mr.  Increase  Mather  in  vindication  of  the  six  Rules  above- 
mentioned,  together  with  all  the  other  Treatises  I  published  in  Print  during 
mv  abode  in  America,  from  June  11th  1702,  to  June  the  8th  1704,  and 
some  Printed  Sermons  within  the  said  time,  may  find  them  at  the  most 
Reverend  Thomas  Lord  Arch-Bishop  of  Canterbury  his  Library  at  St.  Martins, 
all  bound  up  together  in  one  Volume,  which  I  presented  to  the  Society  some 
small  time  after  my  arrival  at  London.  _ 

July  5,  Sunday.  I  Preached  again  at  the  Queens  Chappel  in  Boston  upon 
Rev.  3.20.  ' 

July  8,  July  9,  Thursday.  I  went  from  Boston  to  Linn,  accompanied  with 
Mr.  Talbot,  and  the  next  day,  being  the  Quakers  Meeting  day,  we  visited  their 
Meeting  there,  having  first  called  at  a  Quaker's  House,  who  was  of  my  former 
acquaintance.  Mr.  Shepherd  the  Minister  of  Linn  did  also  accompany  us, 
but  the  Quakers,  though  many  of  them  had  been  formerly  Members  of  his 
Church,  were  very  abusive  to 'him,  as  they  were  unto  us.  After  some  time 
of  silence,  I  stood  up  and  began  to  speak,  but  they  did  so  interrupt  with  then- 
Noise  and  Clamour  against  me,  that  I  could  not  proceed,  though  I  much 
entreated  them  to  hear  me :  So  I  sat  down  and  heard  their  Speakers  one  after 
another  utter  abundance  of  falsehoods  and  impertinencies  and  gross  perversions 
of  many  Texts  of  the  Holy  Scripture.  After  their  Speakers  had  done,  they 
hasted  to  be  gone  :  I  desired  them  to  stay,  and  I  would  shew  them  that  they 
had  spoke  many  falshoods,  and  perverted  many  places  of  Scripture,  but  they 
would  not  stay  to  hear.  But  many  of  the  People  staid,  some  of  them 
Quakers,  and  others  who  were  not  Quakers  but  disaffected  to  the  Quakers 
Principles.  I  asked  one  of  their  Preachers  before  he  went  away,  seeing  they 
Preached  so  much  the  sufficiency  of  the  Light  within  to  Salvation,  (without 
any  thins;  else)  did  the  Light  within  teach  him  without  Scripture,  that  our 
Blessed  Saviour  was  born  of  a  Virgin,  and  died  for  our  Sins,  &c.  He  replyed, 
If  he  said  it  did,  I  would  not  believe  him,  and  therefore  he  would  not 
answer  me.  . 

After  their  Speakers  were  gone,  I  went  up  into  the  Speakers  Gallery,  where 
they  use  to  stand  and  Speak,  and  I  did  read  unto  the  People  that  staid  to 
hear  me,  Quakers  and  others,  many  Quotations  out  of  Edxo.  Burroughs  s 
Folio  Book,  detecting  his  vile  Errors,  who  yet  was  one  of  their  chief  Authors, 
particularly  in  Page  150,  151.  where  he  renders  it  the  Doctrine  of  Salvation 
that's  only  necessary  to  be  Preached,  viz.  Christ  within,  and  that  he  is  a 
Deceiver  that  exhorts  People  for  Salvation  to  any  other  thing  than  the  Light 
within  ;  as  appears  by  his  several  Queries  in  the  Pages  cited.  And  where  he 
saith,  Page  273.  that  the  Sufferings  of  the  People  of  God  in  this  Age  [mean- 
ing the  Quakers]  are  greater  Sufferings,  and  more  Unjust,  than  those  of 
Christ  and  the  Apostles  ;  what  was  done  to  Christ,  or  to  the  Apostles,  was 


8  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

chiefly  done  by  a  Law,  and  in  great  part  by  the  due  execution  of  a  Law.  But 
all  this  a  noted  Quaker,  whose  name  I  spare  to  mention,  (as  I  generally  intend 
to  spare  the  mentioning  of  their  Names)  did  boldly  defend.  But  another 
Quaker  who  stood  by,  confessed  the  last  Passage  in  rendering  the  Quakers 
Sufferings  greater  and  more  unjust  than  the  Sufferings  of  Christ,  was  not  well 
worded,  but  to  excuse  it,  said,  we  must  no*t  make  a  Man  an  offender  for 
a  word. 

July  10.     We  came  to  Hampton,  and  were  very  kindly  entertained  there. 
Hampton  is  distant  N.  Eastward  from  Boston  50  Miles. 

July  12,  Sunday.  Mr.  Talbot  Preached  at  Hampton  in  the  forenoon,  and 
I  Preach'd  there  in  the  Afternoon  on  Acts  26.  18. 

July  15,  Wednesday.     I  Preached  the  Lecture  there  on  the  same  Text. 

July  16,  Thursday.  We  went  to  the  Quakers  Meeting  at  Hampton, 
accompanied  with  Mr.  John  Cotton  the  Minister  of  the  Parish,  and  Mr. 
Cuslhn  the  Minister  of  Salisbury  Parish,  and  very  many  Civil  People  of  both 
these  Parishes  came,  who  were  not  Quakers,  hoping  to  have  heard  some  fair 
Dispute  betwixt  the  Quakers  and  me.  At  the  Quakers  Meeting  there  we 
heard  two  Quaker  Preachers.  The  first  who  spoke  was  a  Ship  Carpenter 
from  Situate,  who  spoke  about  half  an  hour  or  more,  but  very  Ignorantly,  and 
most  grossly  perverting  several  Texts  of  Scripture,  particularly  Job.  17.  3.  and 
Rom.  1.  19.  which  he  brought  to  prove,  that  the  ignorant  People  (to  whom 
he  directed  his  Discourse)  as  he  accounted  them,  had  a  little  Babe  within 
them,  lying  in  a  Manger  under  the  Earth,  to  which  if  they  would  hearken, 
that  little  Babe  within  them  (meaning  by  that  little  Babe,  the  Light  within 
them)  would  give  them  the  knowledge  of  God,  which  was  Life  Eternal.  He 
told  them  he  could  not  read  the  Scripture,  and  hoped  they  would  excuse 
him,  if  he  did  not  so  exactly  quote  the  Words.  After  him  the  other  Quaker 
Preacher,  who  came  from  Shrewsberry  in  East-Jersey,  began  and  continued 
Preaching  very  long,  above  two  Hours,  and  did  mightily  heat  himself;  he 
also  most  ignorantly  spoke  many  things,  and  grossly  perverted  and  misapplied 
many  Texts  of  Scripture,  to  prove  the  sufficiency  of  the  Light  within  to 
Salvation  (viz.  without  Scripture  or  any  thing  else.)  And  as  the  Quakers 
ordinary  way  is  in  their  Preaching  every  where,  they  have  a  set  of  Texts  of 
Scripture  which  they  commonly  bring  to  prove  the  sufficiency  of  the  Light 
within  to  Salvation  without  any  thing  else,  but  which  they  miserably  pervert 
and  misapply,  such  as  Job.  1.  9.  Job.  3.  19,  20.  Job.  12.  36.  Job.  16.  7,  8,  9, 
10,  11.  Rom.  10.  6,  7,  8.  2  Cor.  12.  9.  Titus  2.  11,  12.  Many  of  which 
Texts  and  others  he  did  grossly  pervert  and  misapply  to  prove  his  false 
Doctrine.  And  the  like  perversions  of  Scripture  he  used  against  Baptism,  and 
the  Lord's  Supper,  in  the  common  road  of  other  Quakers,  as  extant  in  their 
Printed  Books.  After  he  had  done,  having  exceedingly  tired  and  wearied  all 
his  Hearers  who  were  not  Quakers,  I  offered  to  speak,  but  immediately  their 
Preachers  went  away  in  all  hast  after  I  began  to  speak,  though  I  earnestly 
entreated  them  to  stay ;  many  also  of  the  Quaker  hearers  went  away  with 
them,  but  some  stayed,  and  all  the  people  who  were  not  Quakers,  together 
with  the  two  New-England  Ministers  abovementioned,  did  stay,  and  heard  me 
about  the  space  of  an  hour  resume  and  refute  the  heads  of  the  Quaker 
Preachers  discourse,  and  rescue  the  Texts  of  Scripture  which  they  had  quoted 
from  their  gross  perversions  and  misapplications,  both  as   concerning   the 


George  KeitKs  Journal.  » 

\lAght  within,  and  the  Holy  Sacraments  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper. 
But  the  day  being  very  hot,  and  the  House  not  large  enough  to  contain   the 
Auditory,  we  kept  the  Meeting  in  an  Orchard  joining  to  the  House,  where  we 
had  some  shade  of  Trees.     Among  the  Quakers  who  stayed  to  hear  me,  one 
or  Vivo  endeavoured  to  interrupt  me  in  my  Discourse ;  but  a  noted  Quaker 
and  Preacher  of  good  repute  belonging  to  their  Meeting,  did  forbid  them  to 
make  any  interruption,  telling  them,  I  did  not  interrupt  their  Preacher?,  and 
therefore  they  should  not  interrupt  me.     I  did  also  read  to  them  many  gross 
Antichrfctian  expressions  I  had  collected  out  of  the  Folio  Book  of  Edward 
Burroughs  (whom  the  Quakers  have  magnified  with  no  less  title  than  that  of 
a  Prophet;  in  their  Title  page  of  his  Folio  Book,  published  by  them  after  Ins 
decease)  and  I  told  them  if  they  were  willing  I  would  show  them  the  Passages 
in  the  Book  it  self.     To  this  the  abovementioned  Quaker  Preacher  reply  d  to 
me,  I  ueeded  not  to  show  them  to  him,  for  he  believed  the  Quotations  were 
truly  made,  and  that  there  were  great  Errors  in  their  Friend's  Books.     The 
same  Quaker  preacher  did  kindly  invite  us  to  his  House,  with  whom    1   had 
much  Discourse.     He  told  me  he  approved  very  well  of  what  he  had  heard 
me  discourse,  and  that  he  did  perceive  my  Doctrine  about  the  necessity  of 
Faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  in  order  to  Salvation,  was  the  same  he  had  formerly 
heard  me  declare  in  their  Meetings  when  I  was  among  them  about  Tw.  Ive 
Years  past.     Some  of  his  Neighbours  told  me,  his  manner  of  Preaching  in  the 
Quakers  Meetings,  was  not  to  speak  much,  but  what  he  spoke  was  generally 
no  other  than   the    express  words   of  Scripture,  without   his    putting    any 
Commentary  or  gloss  on  them  ;  he  has  the  Character  of  a  sober,  honest  and 
very  charitable  Man  among  all  his  Neighbours,  his  Name  is  Thomas  Chase. 
At  this  same  Meeting  of  the  Quakers  at  Hampton,  one  of  the   Qu  ikers 
belonging  to  that  Meeting  did  boldly  affirm  to  me,  before  many  ^  itm-sses, 
that  the  Blood  of  Christ  that  was  outwardly  shed  upon  the  Cross  could  do 
him  no  good,  and  he  did  extremely  blame  me,  for  owning  to  Mr.  John  Cotton 
the  Minister  of  Hampton  Parish,  about  Twelve  Years  past,  that  we  were 
justified  and  sanctified  by  that  Blood  of  Christ's  Body  that  was  outward \\  -lud 
on  the  Cross,  and  did  earnestly  contend  that  the  Blood  of  Christ,  whereby  the 
faithful  are  said  in  Scripture  to  be  justified  and  sanctified,  was  not  any  outward 
Blood  of  Christ,  but  the  inward  Blood  of  the  Light  within  them,  as  they  had 
learned  from  George  Fox,  and  George  Whitehead,  and  other  Quaker  Authors, 
in  their  Printed  Books,  whereof  I  have  given  a  large  and  full  Account,  in 
several  of  my  Printed  Narratives  at  London,  particularly  the  first,  thud,  and 
fourth.     I  endeavoured  to  help  the  said  Quaker's  Understanding,  by  infoi  mmg 
him,  that  by  our  being  justified  and  sanctified  by  the  Blood  of  Christ  that 
was  outwardly  shed,  was  not  meant  that  it  was  by  any  material  or  on  ward 
application  of  that  Blood  to  us,  but  by  the  Merit  of  our  blessed  Sav-i  mrs 
Passion  and  Death,  in  his  being  a  most  satisfactory  and  acceptable  Sacrifice  to 
God  for  our  Sins,  the  which  Sacrifice  required  that  his  Biood  should  be  *hed  ; 
for  without  the  shedding  of  Blood,  there  could  be  no  remission  of  Sins  ;  and 
all  Men  who  had  remission  of  Sins  by  that  Blood,  it  was  by  a  true  and     ively 
Faith  in  that  Blood  ;  but  all  that  I  said  or  could  say  to  him  did   not   pi   vail, 
but  he  continued  strong  in  his  most  unchristian  assertion,  still  justifying  it, 
and  blaming  me  for  my  Christian  Doctrine.     This  with  all  the  other  ] 
I  brought  both  from  their  Preachers  words,  then  spoke  by  them,  a        pioted 


10  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

out  of  their  Books,  which  the  Quakers  present  did  not  contradict,  did  greatly 
satisfy  the  People  there,  who  were  not  Quakers,  that  the  Quakers  chief 
Authors  and  Preachers  were  guilty  of  most  unchristian  Principles,  repugnant 
to  the  Fundamentals  of  the  Christian  Faith ;  and  that  the  inferior  sort  had 
received  their  gross  Errors  from  their  Leaders  Words  and  Writings. 

July  19,  Sunday.  Mr.  Talbot  Preached  at  Salisbury  in  the  Forenoon, 
and  I  Preached  there  in  the  Afternoon,  on  Philip.  2.  13,  where  we  had  a 
great  Auditory,  and  well  affected,  as  also  we  had  the  like  at  Hampton.  The 
occasion  of  our  having  so  great  an  Auditory  both  at  Hampton  and  at  Salis- 
bury was  this,  as  some  of  them  told  us,  that  they  had  been  informed  concern- 
ing us,  that  We  being  Ministers  of  the  Church  of  England,  we  would  Preach 
down-right  Popery  to  our  Hearers  :  But  (said  they)  we  came  the  rather  to 
hear  you,  to  know  whether  we  could  hear  any  Popery  Preached  by  you  ;  but 
indeed,  (said  they  which  were  the  most  Judicious,  and  most  Ancient  among 
them,)  Praised  be  God  we  heard  no  Popish  Doctrine  Preached  by  any  of  you, 
but  good  sound  Protestant  Doctrine,  the  same  which  we  have  heard  our 
Ministers  of  New-England  Preach  to  us,  and  which  to  our  great  comfort  we 
have  believed  these  Forty  Years  past,  and  we  still  continue  to  believe.  We 
replied,  we  were  very  glad  to  find  that  they  were  of  the  same  Faith  with  the 
Church  of  England,  in  these  great  Fundamentals  of  the  Christian  Religion. 

July  23,  1702.  We  came  to  the  Quakers  Meeting  at  Dover  (by  Piscata- 
way  River)  distant  from  Boston  North-Eastwards  about  Seventy  Miles,  where 
after  some  time  of  silence,  we  heard  their  Preacher,  who  was  a  Taylor,  and 
lived  in  the  Town  of  Dover  :  He  did  not  speak  long,  but  exhorted  them  to 
keep  to  the  Foundation,  and  he  quoted  St.  Paul's  Words,  Another  Founda- 
tion can  no  Man  lay,  but  that  which  is  laid  already,  which  is  Jesus  Christ. 
I  heard  him  patiently  till  he  had  done ;  and  after  he  had  done,  I  perceiving, 
by  the  sequel  of  his  discourse,  that  he  meant  nothing  else  by  Jesus  Christ 
being  the  Foundation,  but  the  light  within  them,  and  as  it  is  in  all  Men, 
according  to  their  common  Doctrine.  I  asked  him  what  he  meant  by  Jesws 
Christ  being  the  Foundation,  whether  the  Light  within  them  only,  or  the 
Man  Christ  Jesus,  who  was,  and  is,  both  God  and  Man  without  them,  and, 
who  is  also  in  them  as  he  is  God,  and  is  in  all  Men  by  his  general 
Presence  and  Illumination,  and  is  in  all  the  Faithful  by  his  special 
Grace  and  Illumination  ?  But  to  this  he  would  give  no  positive 
answer.  But  seemed  greatly  surprized,  and  as  a  Man  astonished  at 
my  plain  Question  ;  for  I  found  he  had  no  other  notion  of  Jesus  Christ 
being  the  Foundation,  but  the  Light  within,  which  he  called  God,  and  said, 
God  was  Adam's  Teacher  the  first,  and  will  be  the  last ;  all  which  he 
apply ed  to  the  Light  within,  as  it  is  in  all  Men,  Jews,  Turks,  and  Infidels,  the 
same  as  in  the  Quakers  by  their  plain  confession.  I  asked  him  again,  did  the 
light  within  him,  without  the  Scripture,  teach  him  that  Jesus  Christ  was 
Born  of  the  Virgin  Mary  ?  He  replyed  by  asking  me,  who  taught  Joseph 
that  Christ  was  to  be  Born  of  her  ?  I  answered  him,  an  Angel  :  But  had  an 
Angel  taught  him  the  same  ?  He  said  the  Holy  Ghost  had  taught  him.  I 
again  asked  him,  had  the  Holy  Ghost  Taught  him  that  without  the  Scripture  ? 
To  this  he  quite  demurred,  and  was  at  a  stand,  until  a  Quaker  that  was  next  to 
him,  whispered  to  him  in  the  Ear,  and  bid  him  ask  me,  who  taught  Nebu- 
chadnezzar  that  the  fourth  that  was  with  the  three  Children  in  the  fiery 


George  Keith's  Journal.  11 

Furnace  was  like  the  Son  of  God  ?  I  answered  him,  that  case  was  Miraculous 
and  extraordinary,  which  he  could  not  pretend  unto ;  nor  do  the  Leaders 
among  the  Quakers  pretend,  that  the  Light  luithin  them,  without  Scripture, 
teacheth  them  anything  of  Christ  as  he  was  outwardly  Born  of  a  Virgin,  or 
of  his  Death,  Burial,  and  Resurrection,  &c.  for  it  is  not  needful  (they  say)  to 
be  taught  them  by  the  Light  within  them,  and  yet  the  Light  within  them 
doth  sufficiently  teach  them  all  that  is  necessary  to  Salvation  without  any 
thing  else  ;  which  plainly  proves  from  their  avowed  Principle,  that  they  do 
not  think  the  Faith  of  Christ's  Birth,  Death,  Burial,  Resurrection,  &c. 
-necessary  to  their  Salvation ;  but  even  this  again  is  contradicted  by  some  of 
them,  who  affirm  it  is  necessary  to  them  who  have  the  Scriptures,  to  have  that 
Faith,  and  to  such  not  to  have  it,  is  a  Damnable  Sin.  After  this  short 
Conference  with  him  he  went  away,  and  some  of  the  Quakers  with  him,  but 
many  stayed  behind,  both  Men  and  Women,  with  whom  we  had  much 
discourse,  wherein  they  generally  betrayed  their  horrid  ignorance,  and 
prejudice,  against  the  very  Fundamentals  of  Christianity.  One  of  them  did 
mightily  contend  against  me,  for  the  sufficiency  of  the  Light  within  every  Man 
to  Salvation,  without  any  thing  else,  and  charged  my  denial  of  his  Assertion 
to  be  Blasphemy  ;  for  (said  he)  the  Light  within  is  God,  and  God  could  do 
every  thing,  and  can,  and  is  sufficient  to  save  us  without  any  thing  else.  I 
replyed  to  him,  there  were  several  things  God  could  not  do.  This  again  he 
charged  to  be  Blasphemy,  and  bid  me  give  him  one  Instance  of  any  one 
thing  he  could  not  do.  I  told  him,  I  could  give  him  diverse  Instances  ;  as 
that"  he  could  not  Lie,  nor  be  the  Author  of  any  Sin,  to  which  he  assented. 
I  told  him  again,  as  God  could  not  Lie,  so  nor  could  he  contradict  his 
declared  will  and  purpose  plainly  delivered  to  us  in  the  holy  Scripture,  which 
was  to  save  us  by  Jesus  Christ,  who  died  for  us,  lThess.  5.  9.  and  therefore 
this  being  God's  revealed  Will  to  save  us  by  Jesus  Christ  who  died  for  us,  to 
save  us  without  Jesus  Christ  who  died  for  us,  would  contradict  God's  revealed 
Will  given  us  in  the  holy  Scripture  ;  this  Answer  did  quite  put  him  to  silence. 
After  I  had  thus  said,  one  Mrs.  Knight,  a  Quaker  belonging  to  their  Meeting, 
being  present,  (whose  Name  I  mention  to  her  Praise,  and  to  make  it  known, 
that  some  among  the  Quakers  are  not  such  Infidels,  as  they  more  generally 
are,  though  all  of  them,  even  the  best,  are  involved  in  great  Errors)  signified 
her  good  liking  to  my  Answer,  and  said,  she  thought  that  I  would  give  that 
Answer  :  she  also  did  vindicate  my  Reputation  against  another  Quaker- Wo- 
man there  present,  who  said,  they  (viz.  the  Quakers)  had  no  good  opinion  of 
me,  when  I  was  formerly  among  them  in  that  Town,  about  Twelve  Years  past 
or  more.  I  am  sure,  said  Mrs.  Knight,  that  is  not  true ;  for  Friends  then  had 
a  very  good  Esteem  of  him,  and  particularly  so  I  had,  and  was  glad  that  by 
my  Husbands  Invitation,  he  came  and  Lodg'd  one  Night  at  our  House.  And 
while  we  were  discoursing  about  a  sinless  Perfection,  whether  it  was  attainable 
in  this  Life  ;  another  Quaker- Woman  affirmed,  that  she  was  perfect  to  that 
degree,  that  she  had  not  any  Sin.  What  (said  I)  have  ye  no  sin,  neither 
actual  nor  original  ?  Wxas  ye  not  Bora  with  original  sin  ?  nay,  (said  she)  I 
was  born  of  Holy  Parents,  and  I  knew  never  any  thing  but  Purity  and 
Holiness.  But,  said  I,  David  came  of  holy  Parents,  and  yet  he  said,  Psal. 
51.  5.  Behold  I  was  shapen  in  Iniquity,  and  in  Sin  did  my  Mother  conceive 
me.     Were  your  Parents  more  holy  than  David's  Parents  ?     To  this  she 


12  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

answered,  what  David's  Parents  were  she  knew  not,  whether  holy  or  not,  but 
she  knew  her  Parents  that  they  were  holy.     And  this  is  the  very  Doctrine 
of  George  Fox  and  Edward  Burroughs,  in  their  Printed  Books,  that  the 
Children  of  holy  Parents  are  Born  without  all  defilement  of  Sin.     After  this 
Mr.  Talbot  produced  George  Fox's  Will  in  Print  (which  as  it  has   received 
several  Impressions  at  London,  so  it  hath  had  one  at  least  at  New-York  in 
America)  and  began  to  read  in  it,  how  George  Fox  left  his  Boots  and  Spurs, 
and  Clyster-pipe,  to  Thomas  Lower ;  by  which  Mr.  Talbot  did  infer,  that  it 
seemed  George  Fox  did  leave  them  as  holy  Relicks.     No,  said  she,  viz.  the 
above  mentioned  Woman  who  said  she  had  no  Sin,  they  have  been  silver 
Spurs,  for  she  had  seen  silver  Spurs,  and  the  Clyster-Pipe  was  a  Golden 
Pipe  :  To  this  I  replyed,  this  made  George  Fox  very  vain  and  Proud,  that  his 
Spurs  were  silver  Spurs  ;  this  was  a  great  reflexion  on  George  Fox,  to  say  he 
wore  silver  Spurs  ;  and  that  his  Clyster-Pipe  was  a  Golden  Pipe,  this  was  to 
render  him  very  Prodigal  indeed,  who  was  but  a  poor  Shoemaker  Journy- 
man  (whose  Master  I  knew)  before  he  became  the  Ring-leader  of  the  Quakers, 
that  no  less  would  serve  him  than  silver-Spurs  ;  and  as  for  a  Golden  Clyster- 
Pipe,  I  never  heard  of  any  such  thing  before.     We  had  also  much  reasoning 
with  diverse  of  the  Quakers  in  that  Meeting,  concerning  the  Sacraments,  and 
particularly  that  of  Baptism.     The  chief  Person  that  did  undertake  to  dispute 
with  me  against  Baptism  with  Water,  was  a  Quaker  Justice  of  that  Town, 
whose  Name  I  spare,  as  I  think  fit  generally  to  spare  their  names  (except 
where  I  can   say  something  to  their  commendation,  and  that  is  but  very 
seldom)    whereas   I   produced  Matth.  28.   19.  to   prove  that   our  Blessed 
Saviour  had  commanded  the  practice  of  Baptism  to  his  Apostles,  and  to  their 
Successors  to  administer  it  to  all  Proselytes  to  Christianity  to  the  end  of  the 
World :  To  this  he  replyed,  that  Water  was  not  mentioned,  and  that  the 
Baptism  that  Christ   there  commanded,  was   not   outward  Baptism  with 
Water,  but  inward  Baptism  with  the  Spirit.     I  asked  him  what  Teaching 
was  that,  which  Christ  commanded  there,  Matth.  28.  19,  20.     He  said,  it  was 
inward  Teaching ;  but  in  this  another  Quaker  presently  contradicted  him,  and 
said,  it  could  not  be  inward  Teaching  that  Christ  commanded  the  Apostles  ; 
for  none  but  God,  and  Christ,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  could  Teach  inwardly ; 
but  the   Apostles   being   but   Men,   they   could   but   Teach   outwardly ;  I 
commended  his  answer,  and  from  thence  I  inferred  against  them  both,  that  as 
the  Apostles  could  not  Teach  inwardly,  so  nor  could  they  Baptize  inwardly, 
the  latter  being  as  impossible  to  Men  to  do  as  the  former  ;  and  therefore  the 
Baptism  that  Christ  commanded  the- Apostles  to  administer  was  outward 
Baptism  with  Water,  and  which  accordingly  they  performed  either  by  them- 
selves, or  by  appointing  others  to  do  it  by  the  Authority  they   had  from 
Christ.     This  is  but  a  hint  of  many  things  that  passed  in  discourse  betwixt  us, 
having  continued  with   them  for  many  hours.     After  we  came  out  of  the 
Meeting,  the  Quaker- Woman  who  boasted  so  much  of  her  sinless  Perfection, 
did  invite  us  to  her  House,  and  did  kindly  entertain  us  both  with  Victuals  and 
Drink,  and  offered  us  a  good  Bed  to  lodge  in,  it  being  late.     We  thanked  her 
for  her  Hospitality  and  proffer  to  lodge  us,  but  we  went  into  our  Boat  that 
waited  for  us,  and  went  down  the  River  that  Night  to  the  Town  called  Straw- 
berry-bank, and  lodged  there  at  an  Inn,  or  Public  House  of  Entertainment. 
Here  it  is  worthy  of  notice,  what  some  of  the  Neighbours  of  the  Quakers 


George  Keith's  Journal.  13 

of  that  Town  did  inform  us  concerning  the  Quakers  there,  viz.  how  that 
sometime  after  Quakerism  had  got  entrance  into  that  Town,  and  they  had  set 
up  a  Quaker  Meeting  there,  the  Quakers  invited  their  Neighbours  to  come  to 
their  Meetings,  where  they  should  hear  excellent  Preachers,  who  should 
Preach  to  them  freely  without  any  Cost  or  Charge,  not  like  their  hireling 
Minister,  who  put  them  to  great  charge  to  maintain  him  :  Upon  this  Publica- 
tion, many  or  most  of  the  Parish  deserted  the  Minister,  and  frequented  the 
Quakers  Meetings.  But  not  long  after,  the  Contributions  that  the  Quakers 
gathered  in  their  Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings  for  the  Travelling  Friends 
of  the  Ministry,  were  so  frequent,  and  rose  so  high,  that  they  far  exceeded 
what  they  were  to  pay  their  Minister  as  the  Law  of  the  Country  required  ; 
whereupon  they  generally  concluded  to  desert  the  Quaker  Meetings,  and 
return  to  their  Minister;  for,  said  they,  if  this  be  the  way  of  it,  that  the 
upholding  the  Quakers  Ministers  that  come  among  us  be  so  chargeable,  far 
above  what  we  pay  to  the  Minister  of  the  Parish,  we  will  go  back  again  to  our 
own  Minister  Mr.  John  Pike,  and  accordingly  so  they  did,  and  continue  hearing 
their  own  Minister,  who  is  of  good  Fame  among  the  Neighbourhood,  and 
whom  we  intended  to  have  visited  at  his  House,  but  it  happened  that  he  was 
gone  abroad  ;  however  such  as  were  more  thoroughly  leavened  with 
Quakerism,  keeped  up  their  Meetings,  and  have  Built  a  Meeting-House  to 
themselves,  where  we  did  visit  them,  and  discourse  with  them  as  above- 
mentioned. 

July  25,  1*702.  We  Arrived  at  Salem,  and  had  intended  to  have  visited 
the  Quakers  at  their  Meeting  there,  the  next  Day,  but  we  were  informed  that 
they  had  removed  their  Meeting  for  that  Day  from  Salem  to  another  Place, 
of  which  we  could  have  no  notice,  though  we  made  enquiry. 

July  28.  In  our  way  from  Salem  to  Boston,  as  we  stayed  some  Hours  at 
the  Ferry  by  Newberry,  I  had  much  discourse  with  a  sober  Carpenter  who 
was  a  Quaker,  his  Name  was  William  Clement.  He  did  readily  confess  to 
the  Fundamentals  of  the  Christian  Faith,  concerning  our  blessed  Saviour  ;  but 
had  some  dispute  with  me  about  Baptism,  and  by  the  Discourse  I  had  there 
with  him,  seemed  to  be  much  convinced  that  it  was  his  Duty  to  have  his 
Children  Baptized,  as  he  had  been  himself,  in  Infancy,  and  had  a  Resolution 
to  have  it  done. 

August  1.     We  returned  to  Boston. 

August  2,  Sunday.  I  Preached  again  at  the  Queen's  Chappel  there  on 
Philip.  2.  13. 

August  3,  1*702.  I  set  out  from  Boston  accompanied  with  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Samuel  Myles,  one  of  the  Ministers  of  the.  Church  of  England  Congrega- 
tion there,  and  we  arrived  at  Neivport  in  Rhod-Island  the  next  day,  where 
we  were  kindly  received.  Mr.  Lockyer  the  Church  of  England  Minister  there 
and  diverse  others  of  the  Church  came  from  Newport  and  met  us  at  the 
Ferry,  and  conducted  us  to  the  Town,  and  place  of  our  Lodging.  Mr.  Talbot 
stayed  at  Boston  to  officiate  in  the  Church  there  for  "Mr.  Myles,  until 
his  return. 

August  6.  I  went  to  the  Quakers  Meeting  at  New-port  on  Rhod-Island 
accompanied  with  Mr.  Myles,  Mr.  Lockyer,  and  many  People  belonging  to 
the  Church  there,  some  of  them  being  Justices  of  the  Peace,  to  wit,  Mr.  Carr, 
and  Mr.  Layton. 


14  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

After  one  of  their  Preachers  had  spoke  a  long  time,  and  came  to  an  end, 
having  perverted  many  Texts  of  Scripture,  to  prove  the  sufficiency  of  the 
Light  within,  the  inward  Teacher,  without  any  thing  else,  their  common 
Subject ;  and  though  they  do  not  so  very  frequently  say,  without  any  tiling 
else,  yet  they  always  so  mean  it,  and  oft  so  express  it,  as  they  have  very  much 
of  late  both  in  their  Discourses  and  Books.  The  two  particular  Texts  of 
Scripture  which  he  greatly  perverted,  to  prove  the  Quakers  false  Notion  of  the 
sufficiency  of  the  Light  within  all  Men  to  Salvation,  without  any  thing  else, 
were  Job.  16.  8.  and  Titus  2.  11.  I  began  to  speak,  standing  up  in  a 
Gallery  opposite  to  the  Gallery  where  their  Teachers  were  placed,  who  were 
many  ;  having  intended  in  a  friendly  manner  to  inform  them,  how  their 
Speaker  had  misunderstood  and  misinterpreted  those,  and  other  Texts  of 
Scripture  ;  and  I  much  requested  them  to  hear  me  a  while  without  interrup- 
tion, as  I  had  heard  their  Preacher.  But  I  was  instantly  interrupted  by  them 
very  rudely,  and  they  were  very  abusive  to  me  with  their  ill-Language, 
calling  me  Apostate,  &c.  and  they  threatened  me  with  being  guilty  of  the 
breach  of  the  Act  of  Tolleration,  by  which  they  said  their  Meetings  were 
Authorized.  I  told  them  I  had  not  broken  the  Act  of  Tolleration  ;  for  neither 
that  Act,  nor  any  Law  of  England,  did  forbid  a  Minister  of  the  Church  of 
England  to  speak  in  their  Meetings,  if  he  did  not  interrupt  them,  as  I  did 
not,  nor  did  I  intend  so  to  do.  And  they  who  made  the  interruption  were 
guilty  of  the  breach  of  that  Act,  and  not  T  ;  though  upon  good  enquiry  it  will 
be  found,  the  Quakers  have  not  the  benefit  of  that  Act,  for  want  of  the 
Qualifications  of  their  Preachers  required  by  the  Act. 

Mr.  Myles  said  I  ought  to  be  heard,  I  being  a  Missionary  into  these 
American  parts,  by  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts,  sent  on  purpose  to  endeavour  to  reduce  the  Quakers  from  their  Errors, 
the  which  Society  hath  a  Patent  from  the  Crown  of  England,  and  not  to  hear 
me,  nor  suffer  me  to  speak,  was  a  Contempt  of  Supream  Authority.  Some  of 
the  Quakers  having  said  that  Mr.  Myles  affirmed  I  was  sent  by  the  Queen : 
I  told  them  I  had  no  immediate  Mission  from  the  Queen,  and  I  knew  not  that 
ever  the  Queen  (whom  God  Bless  and  Preserve)  had  heard  of  me.  But 
remotely  and  mediately  my  Mission  was  from  the  Queen,  it  being  from  the 
Honourable  Society,  who  had  a  Patent  from  the  Crown. 

After  this  I  applyed  my  self  to  their  Governour,  Col.  Cranston,  who  was 
there  present,  and  frequents  their  Meetings,  but  is  no  professed  Quaker ;  and 
I  said  to  him,  May  it  please  your  Honour  to  command  these  Men  not  to 
interrupt  me,  but  that  I  may  have  a  Peaceable  hearing  among  such  here 
present  who  are  desirous  to  hear  me,  as  indeed  many  such  were,  not  only  of 
the  Church  People,  but  of  Independents  and  Anabaptists,  as  well  as  diverse 
of  the  Quakers,  especially  the  Younger  sort  of  them.  These  modest  words 
of  mine  to  the  Governour  (who  is  chosen  by  the  People,  but  is  not  their 
Governour  by  the  Queen's  immediate  appointment)  some  Quakers  have  so 
wrested  and  falsified  in  Print,  that  they  have  affirmed  I  spoke  to  the 
Governour  in  a  commanding  way,  to  compel  the  Quakers  to  hear  me,  which 
were  neither  my  Words  nor  Sense  ;  for  I  only  desired  him,  that  by  his 
Authority  I  might  not  be  interrupted :  And  if  I  be  interrupted,  it  behoved 
me  to  complain  to  the  Honourable  Society,  that  I  could  not  have  liberty  to 
speak  in  their  Meeting,  and  so,  what  in  them  lay,  to  frustrate  the  end  of  my 


George  Keith's  Journal.  15 

Mission.  For  where  could  I  have  opportunity  to  inform  them,  but  in  their 
Meetings  ?  Should  I  go  to  their  Houses,  they  would  not  let  me  come  into 
them.  The  Governour,  at  this,  went  away,  and  Civilly  said  to  me,  he  thought 
I  had  done  better,  to  have  stayed  till  they  had  clone.  I  told  him,  then  they 
would  be  gone,  as  they  had  served  me  at  Lynn,  at  Hampton,  and  at  Dover. 
After  the  "Governour  was  gone,  one  of  their  Speakers,  who  was  the  Deputy 
Governour,  and  had  been  formerly  their  chief  Governour,  took  out  of  his 
Pocket  a  Printed  abusive  Paper  full  of  Lies,  having  no  Name  to  it,  and  began 
to  read  it  in  the  Meeting,  on  purpose  to  drown  my  Voice,  that  I  might  not  be 
heard.  The  Title  of  it  was,  One  Wonder  more:  or  George  Keith  the  eighth 
Wonder  of  the  World,  Printed  at  London  several  Years  before.  Mr.  Myles 
said  it  was  an  Infamous  Libel,  without  a  Name  to  it,  and  it  was  a  shame  for 
such  a  man  as  he,  being  Lieutenant  Governour  in  the  Place,  to  read  such  an 
Infamous  Libel  against  any  Man,  on  purpose  vilely  to  defame  him. 

After  he  had  done,  another  Quaker  Preacher,  who  had  been  formerly  their 
Governour,  began  to  Preach  ;  he  told  the  Auditory  he  had  read  the  Scriptures 
in  three  Languages,  but  neither  in  Latin,  Greek,  nor  Hebrew :  but  first 
Literally,  secondly  Carnally,  thirdly  Spiritually.  He  said  the  Grace  [the 
Light  within  all  Men]  was  all-sufficient,  which  he  brought  as  a  Proof  for  its 
being  sufficient  to  Salvation,  without  Scripture,  or  Christ's  Blood  shed,  without 
us,  or  any  thing  else.  He  also  said,  it  was  to  as  little  purpose  to  Preach  to 
natural  Men,  or  for  natural  Men  to  read  the  Scriptures,  as  to  Four-Footed 
Beasts ;  whereby  he  not  only  condemned  the  Practice  of  the  Apostles,  who 
Preached  to  natural  Men,  as  Christ  commanded  them  ;  but  also  he  condemned 
the  Practice  of  the  Quaker  Preachers,  who  both  Preach,  and  write  Books  to 
natural  Men,  whom  they  call  the  World  in  order  to  Convert  them  to  Quaker- 
ism ;  all  this,  and  many  other  gross  falshoods  and  nonsensical  Words  he  there 
uttered.  And  yet  all  this  the  Quakers  swallow  down,  as  the  Infallible 
dictates  of  the  Light  within  them,  as  they  pretend  ;  for  as  George  Whitehead 
hath  affirmed  in  his  little  Book,  called,  The  Voice  of  Wisdom,  such  Ministers 
who  leant  Infallibility,  and  speak  not  from  the  Infallible  Spirit,  are  no 
Ministers  of  Christ.  And  George  Fox,  in  his  great  Mystery,  calls  them, 
Thieves,  Witches,  Conjurers,  who  speak  or  write,  and  not  from  the  Infallible 
Spirit ;  surely  by  this  Quaker-test,  their  greatest  Authors  and  Leaders  are  no 
other,  whose  Discources  and  Books  are  full  of  notorious  falsehoods,  and 
contradictions  to  the  holy  Scriptures. 

At  last  the  first  Speaker  made  a  long  rambling  Prayer,  full  of  Tautoligies, 
and  vain  Repetitions,  and  presumptuous  Boastings,  as  their  manner  is,  after 
they  have  vented  forth  abundance  of  falshoods  in  their  Preachings,  running 
down  the  Scriptures  and  Sacraments,  and  the  Resurrection  of  the  Body  after 
Death,  and  other  great  Doctrines  of  the  Christian  Religion,  they  commonly 
conclude  with  their  Prayers,  Blessing  God  for  his  glorious  presence  .among 
them,  and  his  mighty  power  that  has  been  with  them,  to  assist,  refresh,  and 
comfort  them,  to  which  the  Quaker  hearers  do  frequently  echo  to  them  with 
several  sorts  of  Hummings  and  Sounds,  whereby  to  Seal  to  the  Truth  not 
only  of  the  Words,  but  of  the  mighty  Power  and  Life  that  has  attended  their 
Speakers.  But  while  they  utter  such  falshoods  and  contradictions  to  holy 
Scriptures,  as  also  such  uncharitable  Speeches  against  all  other  Communions 
and  ways  of  Worship,  and  Ministry,  but  their  own ;  it  is  impossible  that  they 


16  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

can  be  acted  by  any  divine  Life  or  Power  to  do  this  :  And  yet  some  Power 
more  than  ordinary  doth  frequently  Act  them,  in  their  Speakings,  and 
commonly  works  most  strongly  among  them,  when  they  are  vehemently 
running  down  the  necessity  of  the  Scriptures,  or  the  Sacraments,  and  Preach- 
ing uplhe  sufficiency  of  the  Light  within  them  to  Salvation,  without  any  thing 
else,  as  I  have  oft  observed.  The  strong  impression  their  Speakings  in  their 
Meetings  frequently  have  (or  used  to  have  more  formerly  than  of  late)  upon 
their  Hearers  ;  manifestly  to  be  observed  by  the  visible  effects  of  it  upon  many 
of  them,  causing  them,  'some  to  shed  Tears  in  plenty,  some  to  shake  and 
Quake,  some  to  utter  deep  Groans,  others  to  Sing;  sufficiently  prove  that 
some  Power,  more  than  ordinary,  doth  at  times  Act  them,  and  this  Power 
doth  at  times  Act  and  Operate  among  them,  and  in  them,  in  a  total  silence 
of  Words,  (as  well  as  when  they  utter  words)  in  their  Assemblies,  of  which 
they  glory  not  a  little.  The  most  tolerable  Construction  that  can  be  made  of 
this  Power,  what  it  is,  or  whence  it  proceeds,  seeing  it  can  be  no  Divine 
Power,  is,  that  it  is  some  strong  natural  Enthusiasm,  raised  by  heighth  of 
fancy,  and  exalted  imagination,  such  as  Mr.  Causabon  has  described  in  his 
Treatise  of  Enthusiasm.  But  then  it  must  needs  be  granted,  that  when  they 
are  Acted  so  furiously  and  outragiously,  to  contradict  the  plainest  Doctrines  of 
Christianity,  and  defame  and  reproach  Christ's  sacred  Institutions,  that  Satan 
acts  together  with  this  Power  of  Strong  Fancy  and  Imagination,  and  makes 
use  of  It,  as  its  Organ  and  Instrument,  or  Conduit  of  Conveyance.^  For  it's 
hardly  to  be  conceived,  how  a  meer  natural  or  Animal  Power,  without  the 
influence  of  some  Diabolical  Spirit,  can  act  Men  with  such  zeal  and  industry 
to  Preach  and  Propagate  most  destructive  Errors  to  Mens  Perdition.  Seeing, 
according  to  Holy  Scripture,  the  Devil  is  the  Father  of  Lies;  and  all  Damna- 
ble Doctrines,  are  the  Doctrines  of  Devils ;  of  which  they  have  a  great  many, 
as  their  Words  and  Books  plainly  shew.  Immediately  after  their  Prayers,  all 
their  Preachers  went  away,  and  many  of  the  Quaker  Hearers,  but  many  of 
them  also  stayed,  especially  the  Younger  sort,  both  Men  and  Women ;  and 
generally  all  the  People  who  were  not  Quakers,  both  those  of  the  Church,  and 
those  called  Independents  and  Anabaptists  stayed.  I  told  their  Preachers,  as 
they  were  making  hast  to  be  gone,  it  was  a  shame  to  them  to  go  away,  and 
leave  so  many  of  their  Sheep  exposed  to  the  Wolf,  as  they  have  affirmed  me 
to  be,  but  I  thank  God  I  am  none  ;  but  by  their  own  Argument,  by  their  so 
flying  and  running  away,  do  not  they  prove  themselves  not  to  be  true 
Shepherds,  but  Hirelings? 

I  had  now  full  liberty  without  any  interruption  to  speak,  perceiving  the 
Auditory  generally  desirous  to  hear  me.  I  recollected  and  resumed  most  of 
the  heads  of  their  discourse,  such  as  I  could  remember,  and  the  Texts  of 
Scripture,  which  they  had  grossly  perverted  and  misapplied,  and  refuted  their 
Perversions  and  Falshoods  ;  and  thus  I  continued  some  considerable  time 
speaking  in  their  Meeting -House,  having  a  considerable  large  Auditory,  all 
very  attentive.  Before  I  had  made  an  end,  diverse  of  the  Quaker  Preachers 
returned,  and  stood  quietly  and  heard  me,  but  said  nothing,  neither  made 
they  any  offer  to  dispute  any  matter  with  me.  I  was  informed  by  some 
credible  Persons,  that  the  occasion  of  their  Preachers  returning  to  the 
Meeting,  while  I  was  speaking,  was,  that  some  Quaker  Zelot- Women  went  to 
their  Preachers,  and  told  them,  it  would  greatly  reflect  on  them,  to  absent 


George  Keith's  Journal.  17 

themselves  while  I  was  speaking  in  their  Meeting-House,  and  might  expose 
the  Weak  Friends  to  be  deceived  by  me.  However  after  their  return,  they 
said  nothing,  but  suffered  me  to  proceed  in  speaking  as  long  as  I  thought 
fit;  and  thus  our  Meeting  ended  Peaceably. 

The  Quakers  had  Built  a  new  Meeting-House  at  Newport,  large  enough  to 
hold  Five  Hundred  Persons,  or  more,  with  fair  and  large  Galleries,  and  Forms 
or  Benches  below.  But  one  thing  very  singular  I  observed,  that  on  the  Top 
of  the  Turret  of  their  Meeting-House,  they  have  a  perfect  Iron  Cross,  two 
large  Iron  Bars  crossing  one  the  other  at  right  Angles,  a  more  perfect  Cross 
I  never  saw  any  where  on  any  Church.  I  mention  this  the  rather,  because 
George  Fox,  in  some  of  his  Printed  Pamphlets,  makes  a  great  outcry  and 
noise  against  the  Steeple  Houses  in  England,  as  he  calls  them,  for  having 
Crosses  on  the  Tops  of  them,  and  that  it  is  Popery ;  what  can  the  Quakers 
say  to  this  ?  Are  their  Brethren  of  Rhod-Island  guilty  of  Popery,  for  having 
the  Cross  on  the  top  of  their  Meeting-House,  which  I  suppose  remains  there 
to  this  day  ? 

August  9,  1702.  Sunday.  I  Preached  at  Newport  on  Rhod-Island,  my 
Text  was  Job.  1.  9.  and  I  had  a  very  numerous  Auditory,  not  only  of  the 
People  of  the  Town,  but  of  many  that  came  from  other  parts  of  the  Island 
with  a  desire  to  hear  me.  I  told  my  Auditory  after  I  had  concluded  my 
Sermon,  that  I  was  to  have  a  publick  Meeting  the  14th  Instant  at  the  Colony 
House  in  Newport,  to  detect  the  Quakers  Errors  out  of  the  Printed  Books  of 
their  chief  Authors,  and  that  I  had  obtained  leave  of  the  chief  Governour 
Collonel  Cranston  to  keep  the  Meeting  in  that  House ;  and  that  I  was  to  give 
notice  to  the  Quaker  Preachers  to  meet  me  there  about  the  first  Hour  after 
Noon,  if  they  thought  fit  to  defend  their  Principles  and  Authors. 

August  10.  I  sent  a  written  Paper  to  the  Quaker  Preachers  there,  to 
meet  me  at  the  Place  and  Time  abovementioned,  to  which  they  sent  me  their 
Answer  soon  after,  that  they  would  meet  me,  so  that  things  should  be  carried 
fairly,  and  each  Party  should  have  liberty  to  speak  an  Hour  without  interrup- 
tion, and  two  Moderators  should  be  chosen,  each  on  a  side,  to  keep  good 
order ;  to  which  I  consented,  though  I  told  them,  an  hour  at  once  was  too 
long,  yet  I  would  yield  to  their  Proposition,  rather  than  that  the  Meeting 
should  fail. 

August  14.  We  Met  about  the  first  Hour  after  Noon,  the  time  appointed  : 
They  allowed  me  to  begin  my  Charge  against  them,  and  the  Hour  Glass  was 
turned  to  measure  the  time.  I  brought  with  me  George  Fox's  Book,  called 
the  Great  Mystery,  and  diverse  other  Quaker  Books,  viz.  Richard  Claridge 
his  Book,  called,  Lux  Evangelica  Attestata,  and  Mr.  Pen's  Book,  called, 
Primitive  Christianity.  I  spent  my  first  Hour  mostly  in  reading  to  them, 
and  to  the  Auditory,  which  were  some  Hundreds  of  People,  both  of  the 
Town  and  Country,  many  Quotations  out  of  George  Fox's  great  Mystery,  full 
of  most  dreadful  Errors  and  Heresies,  and  detecting  the  gross  absurdity  of 
them,  contradicting  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  and  in  the  conclusion,  before  my 
hour  was  quite  spent,  I  told  them,  I  was  to  expect  from  them  a  particular 
answer  to  each  Quotation  I  had  read  to  them,  and  I  proffered  to  them,  that  if 
they  questioned  my  true  Reading,  they  might  Read  them,  laying  the  Book 
open  before  them.  And  for  better  Method's  sake,  I  offered  to  Read  again  the 
quotations  to  them  singly  one  by  one,  aud  let  them  give  their  Answer  to  each 

2 


18  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical   Collections. 

single  quotation,  whether  they  owned  them  to  be  according  to  their  Principles, 
yes,  or  no,  seeing  George  Fox  was  the  first  and  most  Authentic  Author 
among  them,  whom  the  Quakers  at  London  have  in  Print  called,  the  Apostle 
of  this  Age.  But  instead  of  any  such  performance  by  them,  to  the  great 
disappointment  of  all  the  Auditory  who  were  not  Quakers,  nor  Quakerly 
affected,  such  as  the  far  greatest  part  of  the  Auditory  was  not,  they  gave  not 
the  least  Answer  directly,  or  indirectly,  to  any  one  of  the  quotations  I  had 
read  to  them,  nor  gave  they  any  reason  of  excuse  why  they  declined  to  give 
any  Answer  to  them.  But  as  they  had  projected  it  before  hand,  one  of  chief 
Note  among  their  Speakers,  viz  the  Deputy  Governour  abovementioned,  did 
read  to  the  Auditory,  the  Printed  sheet,  called,  the  Christianity  of  the  People 
•called  Quakers,  &c.  and  after  that  was  fully  read,  he  read  one  or  two  other 
scurrilous  Libel§,  having  no  Name  to  them,  that  some  Quakers  had  Printed 
against  me,  about  the  Year  1700,  when  I  joined  to  the  Church  of  England, 
one  of  which  was  that  abovementioned,  called,  One  Wonder  more  :  or  George 
Keith  the  eighth  Wonder  of  the  World.  Having  thus  spent  their  Hour,  all 
their  Speakers  rose  up  to  be  gone,  pretending  the  Agreement  was  but  for  two 
Hours  in  all,  which  I  denied ;  and  the  Moderator  chosen  by  them,  to  whom 
I  appealed,  gave  it  against  them,  that  the  time  was  not  limited  to  two  Hours 
in  all,  but  to  one  Hour  to  one  side  at  a  time. 

So  I  began  my  second  Hour,  and  I  first  shewed  how  unfair  and  unreason- 
able they  were,  to  give  no  Answer  to  my  Charges  I  had  given  out  of  George 
Fox,  and  other  approved  Authors,  with  whom  they  pretend  to  be  one  in 
Doctrine,  and  that  they  are  not  varied  in  a  tittle  from  their  first  Principles; 
but  as  God  is  the  same,  and  the  Truth  is  the  same,  so  his  People  (the 
Quakers)  are  the  same  ;  so  one  of  their  approved  Authors  has  lately  Printed 
in  his  Book  at  London  ;  after  this  I  proceeded  to  reply  to  what  was  fL  to  be 
said,  to  those  Printed  Libels,  their  chief  Speaker  had  read  against  me.  And 
first,  as  to  the  Printed  sheet,  called,  The  Christianity  of  tie  People  called 
Quakers,  asserted  (as  they  say)  by  George  Keith ;  which  is  a  deceitful 
contrivance  of  the  Quakers,  as  if  I  had  composed  that  sheet  in  form  and 
manner  as  it  is  there  Printed,  which  is  altogether  false.  The  sheet,  I  grant, 
contains  some  quotations,  collected  by  the  Quakers  out  of  my  former  Books 
many  Years  ago,  when  I  was  among  them  ;  all  which,  so  far  as  they  were 
contrary  to  sound  Doctrine  contained  in  the  holy  Scripture,  I  had  in  Print 
retracted  several  Years  ago  ;  and  therefore  they  did  not  now  affect  me. 
Though  none  of  those  quotations,  however  erroneous,  contradict  the  Founda- 
tion of  the  Christian  Faith,  concerning  our  Blessed  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  his 
Person,  and  twofold  Nature,  and  Offices  of  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King,  and  the 
necessity  of  Faith  in  him,  as  he  outwardly  came  in  the  Flesh,  died  for  our 
Sins,  and  rose  again,  &c.  in  order  to  Mens  Salvation.  Whereas  the  System 
of  Quakerism,  set  forth  in  George  Fox's  great  Mystery,  and  other  Quaker 
Authors,  is  a  point  blank  contradiction  to  this  Faith. 

Next,  As  to  their  Printed  Libel,  called,  One  Wonder  more,  &c.  havino-  no 
Name  to  it  of  any  Person  or  People,  I  was  not  obliged  to  take  notice  of  it; 
and  it  contained  several  notorious  falshoods,  as  that  I  had  said,  in  the  Book 
called,  Help  in  time  of  Need,  that  I  had  taken  the  Scots  League  and  Cove- 
nant, and  that  Libeller  positively  charges  me  with  having  taken  it,  both 
which  are  utterly  false  ;  for  I  being  Born  in  the  Year  1638, 1  was  not  capable 


George  Keith's  Journal.  19 

of  taking  it,  when  it  was  given,  viz.  about  the  Year  1043,  by  reason  of  my 
non-age,  and  it  was  never  given  in  a  National  way  since,  in  Scotland,  that  I 
know  of:  Again,  that  Libeller  falsely  accuseth  me  that  I  had  said,  I  was  not 
changed  in  my  Perswasion  in  any  thing  since  I  had  left  the  Quakers,  from 
what  I  had,  when  among  them.  For,  on  the  contrary,  I  have  owned  in  Print 
that  I  was  changed  in  my  Perswasion  and  Judgment  in  several  things,  and 
had  Printed  a  Book  of  Retractation  of  many  Errors  I  had  been  in,  whilst  I 
was  among  them.  But,  I  thank  God,  I  never  had  the  worst  of  their  Errors, 
nor  any  (that  I  can  remember)  that  contradicted  the  necessity  of  Faith  in 
Christ  Jesus,  who  is  both  God  and  Man,  in  order  to  Mens  Salvation,  to  which 
the  Quakers  Fundamental  Principle,  that  the  Light  icithin  them  is  sufficient 
to  Salvation  without  any  thing  else,  is  a  perfect  contradiction.  This  vile 
Antichristian  notion  that  sets  up  Deism,  and  overturns  the  Christian  Faith,  I 
never  had,  and  I  challenge  my  greatest  Adversaries  to  prove  it  against  me. 
Let  the  Quakers  Retract  and  Renounce  their  Errors,  as  I  have  done  mine,  to 
God's  Praise,  who  has  so  enabled  me,  and  I  shall  no  more  charge  them 
therewith.  And  whereas  they  had  upbraided  me  with  my  changing,  I  told 
them  many  Quakers  had  made  as  great  changes  as  I  had,  and  particularly 
Richard  "Claridge,  now  a  great  Author  among  them,  who  was  first  an 
Episcopal  Preacher,  then  an  Anabaptist  Preacher,  and  now  a  Quaker 
Preacher. 

After  I  had  thus  replyed  "to  their  malicious  Libels  Read  against  me,  I 
proceeded  to  read  diverse  other  Quotations  out  of  Richard  Claridge's  Lux 
JEvangelica,  and  Mr.  Pen's  Primitive  Christianity,  and  so  continued  detecting 
the  gross  absurdity  of  their  assertions,  till  my  second  Hour  was  almost  spent; 
and  I  renewed  my  demand  to  them,  to  give  their  Answer  to  what  I  had 
further  both  read  and  said  in  my  second  Hour. 

But  nothing  did  they  say,  to  any  one  thing  I  had  said ;  but  after  a  long 
time  of  silence,  they  began  to  Preach,  one  after  another,  after  their  common 
way,  intermixing  therewith  false  accusations  against  me,  that  I  did  pervert 
their  Friends  Words,  and  charged  them  falsely,  but  did  not  give  one  Instance 
to  prove  I  had  done  so.  And  after  they  had  continued  their  second  Hour, 
Preaching  and  Railing  against  me,  they  went  away. 

Before  the  People  that  were  not  Quakers  went  away,  I  told  them,  I  pur- 
posed to  have  another  publick  Meeting  in  the  same  place  the  17th  Instant,  to  . 
begin  about  Eight  a  Clock  in  the  forenoon,  to  detect  the  Quakers  great 
Errors,  particularly  in  their  rejecting  the  Divine  Institutions  of  Baptism  and 
the  Lord's  Supper ;  and  of  this  I  gave  notice  to  the  Quaker  Preachers, 
desiring  them  to  come  and  defend  themselves  if  they  could,  they  should  have 
a  fair  hearing ;  but  not  one  of  them  came.  However  many  People  of  the 
Town  came,  both  Church  People  and  Dissenters,  who  (with  great  attention 
and  satisfaction)  heard  me  prove  the  Divine  Institution  of  both  Baptism  and 
the  Lord's  Supper,  and  refute  the  Quakers  Idle  and  absurd  evasions  and 
glosses,  whereby  they  use  to  pervert  the  plain  Texts  of  Scripture  upon  those 
heads,  as  they  do  upon  all  others  controverted  by  them. 

And  here  I  think  fit  to  give  a  List,  or  Catalogue,  of  the  chief  and  most 
scandalous  quotations  I  did  read  to  the  Quakers  and  Auditory  present,  at  the 
abovesaid  Meeting  at  Newport  on  Rhod-Island,  out  of  George  Fox  his  Great 
Mystery,  Richard  Claridge  his  Lux  Evang.  attest,  and  Mr.  Pen's  Primitive 
Christianity. 


20  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

The  Quotations  out  of  George  Fox's  Great  Mystery,  &c. 

I.  Pag.  246.     Christ,  God  and  Man,  Flesh  and  Spirit,  is  in  the  Quakers. 

II.  Pag.  149.     Whole  Christ,  God  and  Man,  is  in  Men. 

III.  Pag.  211.  Christ  is  not  absent  from  his  Church,  as  touching  his 
Flesh. 

IV.  Pag.  322.     The  Flesh  of  Christ  is  in  them,  because  they  Eat  it. 

V.  Pag.  322.     The  Flesh  of  Christ  came  down  from  above. 

VI.  Pag.  250.  And  the  Devil  was  in  thee,  and  thou  saith,  thou  art 
saved  by  Christ  without  thee,  and  so  hast  recorded  thy  self  to  be  a 
Reprobate. 

VII.  Pag.  246.  He  Quotes  Isai.  9.  6.  to  prove,  that  God  the  Father  took 
upon  him  Man's  Nature. 

VIII.  Page  9.  He  will  not  allow,  that  Christ  is  to  come  to  Judgment 
without  us,  at  the  end  of  the  World ;  but  saith,  Christ  is  come  to  Judgment 
and  he  blames  his  Opponent,  for  having  any  such  expectation  ;—who  are  come 
to  Christ  the  Light,  the  Life,  they  need  not  go  forth,  viz.  to  look  for  a  Christ 
without  them. 

IX.  Page  350.  The  Scriptures  are  not  the  means,  nor  the  Rule  of  Faith. 
The  means  of  Salvation  is  not  ordinary,  nor  outward. 

X.  Pag.  302.     The  Spirit  is  the  Rule,  saith  Christ. 

XL  Page  229.  He  blames  the  Ministers  of  New-Castle,  and  saith,they 
are  not  fitto  be  Ministers  who  know  not  the  State  of  Souls  from  Eternity  to 
Eternity. 

XII.  Page  281,  and  318.  He  pleads  for  a  Perfection  in  fulness,  above 
any  degree,  before  the  death  of  the  Body ;  and  saith,  he  witnessed  it.  And 
pag.  282,  197.  He  pleads  for  a  Perfection,  as  God  is  Perfect,  in  equality 
and  not  in  quality  only.     Like  to  this  is  what  he  saith  to  his  Opponent 

Pag.  67.  Again  :  Thou  makest  a  great  pudder,  that  any  one  should  witness 
he  is  equal  with  God.  And  in  his  Answer  he  proves  his  equality  with  God 
against  his  Opponent,  from  the   Westminster  Catechism. 

Pag.  127.  He  giveth  the  same  Proof  that  he  is  equal  with  God,  from  the 
Assemblies  Catechism  made  at  Westminster;  his  Opponent  being  some 
Presbyterian  or  Independent,  who  owned  that  Catechism  :  But  that  Catechism 
doth  not  say,  that  George  Fox,  or  any  meer  Man,  was  equal  with  God ;  but 
that  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  are  equal  with  God  the  Father  ;  which  is 
orthodox  Doctrine.  But  the  Mystery  of  George  Fox's  Argument  did  conflict 
in  this,  that  he  was  the  Son,  and  consequently  he  was  equal  with  God.  _  The 
dispute  betwixt  him  and  his  Opponent,  was  not,  whether  the  Son,  viz.  the 
second  Person  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  was  equal  with  God  the  Father,  for  his 
Opponent  owned  that. 

XIII.  Pag.  73.     None  can  know  Christ  by  the  Scriptures. 

Pag.  168.  Them  that  never  heard  the  Scripture  outwardly,  the  Light 
that  every  Man  hath  that  cometh  into  the  World,  being  turned  to  it,  with  that 
they  will  see  Christ,  with  that  they  will  know  Scripture,  with  that  they  will 
be  led  out  of  all  delusions,  come  into  Covenant  with  God,  with  which  they 
will  come  to  Worship  God  in  the  Spirit,  and  serve  him. 

Pag.  47.  The  Light  in  Men  sufficient  to  Salvation,  without  the  help  of 
any  other  means  or  discovery. 

XIV.  The  Quakers  are  the  only  Ministers  of  Christ,  since  the  Apostles  days. 


George  KeitKs  Journal.  21 

The  Quotations  I  did  then  read  out  of  a  Book  of  Richard  Claridge,  called 
Lux  Evangelica  attestata. 

I.  Pag/l7,  18,  19.  He  saith  God  doth  afford  to  all  Men,  even  in  the 
ordinary  way  of  his  Providence,  such  a  manifestation  of  his  Light  or  Spirit,  as 
is  sufficient  to  lead  and  Guide  the  Faithful  into  all  truth  necessary  to  Salva- 
tion, without  Scripture.  Note,  by  Faithful,  he  means  Faithful  to  the  Light 
xoithin  them,  who  have  not  the  Scripture. 

II.  Pag.  49.  Faith  in  Christ,  as  outwardly,  (he  saith)  is  no  essential  part 
of  the  Christian  Religion. 

III.  Pag.  26.  He  denies  that  Christ's  Body  is  the  same  in  Substance  he 
had  on  Earth. 

IV.  Pag.  90.  He  justifies  that  Assertion  of  Mr.  Pen,  in  his  Preface  to 
Mr.  Barclaye's  Folio  Book,  pag.  ?,6.     Oh  Friends!  great  is  the  Mystery  of 

Godliness,  God  manifest  in  the  Flesh  ;  and  if  that  be  a  Mystery,  how 

much  more  is  the  Work  of  Regeneration  a  Mystery,  that  is  wholly  inward 
and  Spiritual.  And  to  confirm  it,  the  said  R.  C.  calls  Christ  within  the 
Mystery  of  that  Mystery,  viz.  of  Christ  without. 

The  Quotations  I  did  then  read  out  of  Mr.  Pen's  Primitive  Christianity. 

I.  Pag.  30.  Concerning  the  Light  within  all  Men,  he  saith  :  If  it  reveal 
God,  (which  he  affirms  from  Rom,  2.  ver.  7,  to  17.  in  pag.  73,  74.)  to  be  sure 
it  manifests  Christ. 

II.  Page  50,  to  55.  The  Heathens  have  the  same  Light  in  them,  that  true 
Christians  have. 

III.  Pag.  78.  All  Religion  is  but  one  in  the  many  modes  and  shapes  of 
it :  if  Men  be  obedient  to  the  Light  within.  Note,  this  takes  away  all  real 
and  substantial  distinction  betwixt  Deism,  and  Christianity,  and  betwixt 
natural  and  revealed  Religion. 

August  16,  Sunday.  I  Preached  in  the  Church  at  Newport  on  Rhod- 
Lsland,  on  Acts  26.  18.  having  Preached  on  the  same  Text,  the  Wednesday 
foregoing,  in  the  same  plaae. 

August  24.  Being  the  Tenth  Day  after  the  Conference  I  had  with  the 
Quakers  at  Nevyport  on  Rhod-Island,  a  Quaker  Preacher  Woman,  living  at 
Newport,  who  has  been  a  Speaker  in  the  Quakers  Meeting  upwards  of  Forty 
Years,  writ  a  long  Letter  to  me,  which  I  have  by  me,  where,  after  diverse 
severe  Charges  against  me,  in  meer  generals,  she  blames  me  for  saying  to  the 
Quaker  Preachers  at  Portsmouth,  which  is  at  the  other  end  of  the  Island, 
where  I  went  to  visit  them,  at  their  Meeting  there  August  the  13th,  that  they 
did  not  Preach  Christ  enough,  as  he  was  outwardly  Crucified  and  lifted  up 
on  the  Tree  of  the  Cross  ;  and  whereas  I  had  said  unto  them,  that  they  should 
direct  their  Hearers,  to  look  by  Faith  to  Christ,  as  he  was  Crucified,  and 
lifted  up  on  the  Tree  of  the  Cross,  in  order  to  be  spiritually  healed,  as  the 
Israelites  in  the  Wilderness  were  directed  by  Moses  to  look  to  the  Brascn 
Serpent,  to  be  healed  Bodily,  after  they  were  bit  by  Serpents  there,  for  which 
I  had  quoted  Job.  3.  14.  This  most  ignorant  Woman  Preacher,  in  her  said 
Letter  to  me,  denies  that  the  lifting  up  of  Christ  in  Job.  3.  14,  is  to  be  meant 
of  his  lifting  up  on  the  Tree  of  the  Cross,  or  that  People  should  be  directed 
to  him  for  healing,  as  he  was  there  lifted  up. 

To  overthrow  my  assertion  she  gives  diverse  Reasons. 

I.  That  lifting  up,  Job.  3.  14.  is  the  same  with  that  whereof  he  said,  I, 


22  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical   Collections. 

when  I  am  lifted  up,  will  draw  all  Men  after  me :  but  that  was  not  his  lifting 
up  on  the  Cross. 

II.  The  Enemies  of  God,  did  lift  him  upon  the  Tree,  &c. 
■    III.  He  is  not  now  upon  the  Tree,  nor  did  he  long  stay  there. 

IV.  It  would  be  a  great  fallacy,  and  known  Error,  for  any  to  Preach  to 
People,  that  they  should  look  for  him  upon  the  Tree,  seeing  he  is  not  there, 
but  risen. 

Some  time  after  I  received  her  Letter,  I  writ  an  answer  to  her,  and 
laboured  therein  to  convince  her  of  her  gross  ignorance,  as  well  as  of  perverting 
both  my  Words  and  Sense,  as  if  what  I  had  said  to  the  Quaker  Preachers  at 
Portsmouth,  where  she  was  present,  that  they  were  to  Preach  to  People,  to 
direct  them  to  look  to  Christ  for  healing,  as  he  was  lifted  up  on  the  Tree,  did 
purport,  that  they  were  to  go  on  Foot  to  Jerusalem,  to  look  to  him  with  their 
Bodily  Eyes,  than  which  there  could  be  no  greater  perversion  of  Words. 
And  if  this  be  not  a  wilful  perversion  in  her,  she  is  most  extreamly  ignorant, 
to  think  that  there  can  be  no  looking  to  Christ,  as  he  suffered  on  the  Tree  of 
the  Cross,  but  by  the  bodily  sight,  seeing  it  is  very  common  in  Scripture,  to 
express  Faith  in  God  and  in  Christ  by  looking  to  him. 

And  her  pretended  Argument  from  Job.  11.  32.  is  most  evidently  against 
her,  for  that  his  lifting  up,  Job.  12.  32.  is  to  be  understood,  his  lifting  up  on 
the  Tree,  whereon  he  was  Crucified,  is  clear  from  V.  33.  This  Ae  said, 
signifying  what  manner  of  Death  he  should  Die.  She  was  so  mightily 
pleased  with  her  Letter  to  me,  that  lest  it  should  miscarry,  some  Months  after 
I  received  it  in  Pensilvania,  she  sent  me  a  duplicate  of  it,  as  if  it  had  been 
some  Jewel. 

This  Letter  of  hers  is  a  fresh  Instance,  beside  many  more,  to  prove  that  the 
Quakers  have  no  real  devout  regard  to  Christ,  as  he  suffered  Death  for  our 
Sins,  and  rose  again  without  us,  &e.  in  order  to  our  Salvation,  as  the 
necessary  object  of  Faith.  They  do  commonly  say,  they  believe  all  that  is 
written  of  Christ,  his  Birth  of  the  Virgin,  his  "Life,  Miracles,  Death,  Burial, 
Resurrection,  Ascension,  &c.  But  the  fallacy  lies  here,  that  all  this  Faith 
(they  say)  is  but  Historical,  and  not  the  saving  Faith ;  they  believe  it  as  they 
believe  any  other  History,  but  they  think  it  not  necessary  to  Salvation,  and 
that  because  it  is  necessary,  it  is  to  be  Preached  ;  nay,  George  Whitehead 
a  great  Author  among  them,  hath  said  in  his  Book,  called,  Light  and  Life, 
That  to  confide  in  Christ  ivithout  us,  is  contrary  to  Deut.  30,  and  Rom.  10. 
And  the  like  he  saith  in  Truth  defending.  And  as  plainly  as  any  of  them, 
Mr.  Pen  hath  declared  himself,  Quakerism  a  new  nickname,  &c.  pag.  6. 
Faith  (saith  he)  in  the  History  of  Christ's  outward  manifestation  is  a  deadly 
Poison  these  latter  Ages  have  been  inflicted  with  to  the  destruction  of  godly  living. 

August  23,  Sunday.  I  Preached  at  Naraganset,  (that  lyes  on  the  Conti- 
nent, but  is  not  far  from  Rhod-Island)  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Opdyke's  where  I 
had  a  considerable  Auditory,  my  Text  was  Titus  2.  11.  The  People  there 
are  very  desirous,  that  a  Church  of  England  Minister  be  sent  to  them. 

August  27.  I  Preached  at  Little  Compton,  alias  Seaconot,  that  lyes  on 
the  Continent  also,  not  far  from  the  Island,  at  the  House  of  Henry  Head, 
where  I  had  a  large  Auditory;  my  Text  was  Jer.  31.  33.  They  are  there 
also  very  desirous,  that  a  Minister  be  sent  to  them.  Mr.  Lockyer  went  a  long 
with  me,  and  read  the  Prayers  at  both  Places. 


George  KcliKs  Journal.  23 

August  30,  1702.  Sunday.  Being  accompanied  with  Mr.  Lockyer,  we 
crossed  the  Ferry  at  Portsmouth  in  the  Morning,  in  order  to  be  at  Swansey, 
on  the  Continent,  to  Preach  there,  as  accordingly  I  did  ;  Mr.  Lockyer  read  the 
Prayers  ;  there  was  a  large  Auditory.  My  Text  was  1  Thess.  1.  5.  They 
greatly  desire  a  Minister  to  be  sent  unto  them. 

As  we  were   crossing  the  Ferry  at  Portsmouth  on  Rhod-Mand,  by  the 
good  Providence  of  God  we  escaped  a  great  danger ;  we  had  essayed  to  cross 
the  Ferry  the  Day  before,  but  the  Wind  was  so  strong,  it  Avas  not  safe  to  try 
it,  hoping  the  next  day  would  be  more  Calm  ;  but  the  Wind  little  abated  the 
next  day,  so  that  both  Wind,  and  Sea,  were  very  boisterous ;  when  we  were 
about  half  over  the  Ferry  (that  is  of  a  considerable  breadth)  our  Mast  and 
Sail  were  beat  down  by  the  Wind,  the  Mast  at  its   fall,  touched  gently  my 
shoulder,  and  did  me  no  harm  ;  we  had  no  ability  to  get  up  our  Sail  again, 
there   being  but  one  Negroe  Man  to  manage  the  Boat,  and  we  were  in  all 
three  Passengers,  and  having  three  Horses  in  the  Boat.     So  for  some  time  we 
remained  there  much  tossed  by  the  Waves  of  the  Sea,  and  were  in  danger  to 
be  driven  out  to  the  Sea  and  overwhelmed.     After  some  time  a  Boat  came 
off  from  Land  to  help  us,  and  to  Tow  us  to  Land.     But  the  Rope  they  gave 
us  broke,  and  the   Rope  we  gave  them  did  also  break,  and  so  we  were  left 
helpless.     But  a  Quaker  of  my  former  acquaintance,  whose  Name  is  John 
Burden,  who   had   also  a  Ferry-Boat,  came  with   all  Speed  in   his  Boat  to 
relieve  us,  and  Towed  us  to  Land,  having  several  able  Men  with  him  in  the 
Boat,  to  manage  her.     After  we  landed,  I  offered  Money  to  his  Men,  but  he 
would   not  permit   them  to  receive  any.     I  thanked  him  very  kindly  for  his 
help  in  our  great  Danger,  and  said  to  him,  John,  ye  have  been  a  means  under 
God  to  save  our  natural  Life,  suffer  me  to  be  a  means  under  God  to  save  your 
Soul,  by  good  information  to  bring  you  out  of  your  dangerous  Errors.     He 
replyed,  George,  save  thy  own  Soul,  I  have  no  need  of  thy  help  ;  then,  said 
I,  I  will  pray  for  your  Conversion  ;  he  replyed,  the  Prayers  of  the  Wicked  are 
an  abomination;    so  uncharitable  was 'he  in  his  opinion  concerning  me,  (as 
they  generally  are,  concerning  all  who  differ  from  them)  though  Charitable  in 
this  action. 

The  next  Day,  we  crossed  the  Ferry  in  his  Boat :  After  our  landing  he 
entertained  us  civilly  at  his  House,  with  whom  I  had  much  Discourse,  and  I 
laboured  much  to  inform  him,  how  that  the  Quakers  Principle,  that  the  Light 
within  every  Man  was  sufficient  to  Salvation  without  any  thing  else,  did 
plainly  overthrow  the  Christian  Faith,  and  set  up  meer  Deism  or  Heathenism 
in  the  room  of  Christianity.  But  I  could  not  prevail  to  convince  him.  He 
had  a  great  many  of  the  Quakers  Printed  Books  lying  in  a  AVindow  in  his 
House,  which  I  looked  upon,  and  asked  him  that  he  would  sell  them  to  me, 
for  they  would  be  useful  to  me  in  that  Country  ;  but  he  earnestly  refused,  and 
said,  I  should  not  have  them,  though  I  should  give  double  Money  for  them  : 
Why,  said  I  ?  Because  (said  he)  thou  wilt  do  Mischief  with  them  ;  he  meant, 
that  I  would  expose  the  Quakers  Principles,  and  make  them  known,  what  they 
are,  out  of  their  own  Books  ;  which  the  Quakers  are  loath  should  be  known, 
and  therefore  when  Quotations  are  produced  out  of  their  Books,  though  ever 
so  fairly  Quoted,  they  use  confidently  to  deny,  there  are  any  such  in  their 
Books,  when  the  Books  are  not  present  to  lay  before  them. 

September  6,  1702.     Sunday!     I  Preached   again  at  Newport  on  Rhod- 


24  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Island,  on  Job.  12.  36.  Mr.  Talbot  also  Preached  there  several  times,  and 
commonly  wherever  we  Travelled,  the  one  of  us  Preached  in  the  Fore-noon 
on  the  Sundays,  and  the  other  in  the  After-noon,  except  when  the  days  were 
short,  that  there  was  no  Sermon  usual  in  the  Afternoon  ;  and  sometimes,  for 
the  greater  Service  in  diverse  places,  one  Preached  in  one  part,  and  one  in 
another,  at  the  same  time. 

The  time,  that  we  remained  at  Newport,  on  Rhod-Island,  Mr.  Carr,  and 
Mr.  Laiton,  Inhabitants  on  the  Island,  both  of  them  of  the  Church  of  England, 
and  of  good  repute  among  their  Neighbours,  shewed  us  several  Commissions 
in  writing,  given  to  them,  by  Quaker  Governours,  with  their  Hands  and  Seals 
affixed,  Commissionating  them  to  be  Military  Officers,  to  fight  against  the 
Indians,  and  French,  in  the  times  of  the  several  Wars  the  English  had  with 
them  ;  to  Kill  and  destroy  their  Enemies.  The  Quaker  Governours  Names, 
who  gave  these  Commissions  to  several,  to  be  Military  Officers  in  the  Quaker 
Government,  whose  Commissions  in  the  Original  Signed  and  Sealed  by  them, 
we  saw,  and  read,  are,  1.  William  Coddington.  2.  Walter  Clark.  3.  John 
Eston.  4.  Henry  Bull,  all  Preachers  but  the  first ;  Walter  Clark,  and  John 
Eston,  were  alive  when  we  were  there,  and  I  suppose  still  are  alive,  the  other 
two  were  dead;  true  Copies  of  which  Commissions,  are  now  in  the  Custody 
of  a  Person  of  Quality  in  England,  and  can  be  produced  if  occasion  require  it. 
This  I  thought  fit  to  make  known,  that  it  may  evidently  appear,  how  contrary 
the  Quakers  Practice,  where  they  have  the  Government,  is,  to  their 
professed  Principle,  that  it  is  unlawful  to  them,  to  fight  with  a  Carnal  Weapon, 
so  much  as  in  their  own  defence.  The  like  Commission  I  have  seen  in  the 
Original,  given  by  some  Quaker  Magistrates  at  Philadelphia,  in  Pensilvania, 
about  fifteen  Years  ago,  giving  three  Persons,  there  Commissions  to  be 
Captains,  to  go  with  their  Companies  to  recover  a  Sloop  by  force  of  Arms, 
that  some  Privateers  had  stolen  out  of  the  Harbour. 

That  it  is  the  Quakers  professed  Principle  that  they  cannot  Fight,  or  Kill, 
in  their  own  defence,  is  evident  from  s"eueral  Declarations  of  their  Leaders  and 
Authors  in  Print,  but  especially  from  Mr.  Pen's  Key,  which  has  been  oft 
reprinted.  In  Pag.  34,  35.  he  saith,  They  (i.  e.  the  Quakers)  cannot  Kill  or 
slay  their  own  kind ;  for  Proof  of  which  he  quotes  2  Cor.  10.  3,  5.  The 
Weapons  of  our  Warfare  are  not  Carnal,  &c.  This  again  was  contradicted 
by  the  Quakers  Practice  in  Pensilvania,  who  by  his  Authority  or  Allowance 
put  several  Persons  to  Death  judicially,  for  suspected  Murthers.  (to  several  of 
which  they  had  no  Evidence  made  either  by  Witness,  or  by  their  Confession, 
whom  they  caused  to  be  put  to  death.)  And  as  to  that  Text  Mr.  Pen  has 
quoted  in  his  Key,  2  Cor.  1 0.  3,  5.  for  a  Reason  why  the  Quakers  cannot  use 
a  Carnal  Weapon.  Query,  Is  not  a  Gallows,  or  Gibbet,  on  which  the  Quaker 
Judges  in  Pensilvania  (some  of  which  were  Preached  also)  caused  some  to  be 
hanged  for  suspected  Murther,  a  Carnal  Weapon  as  really  as  a  Sword,  Gun, 
or  Spear  ? 

The  like  Contradiction,  the  Quakers  are  guilty  of,  in  their  late  common 
Practice,  of  their  Solemn  calling  God  to  Witness  about  worldly  matters, 
contrary  to  their  Professed  Principle,  published  in  Print  by  Mr.  Pen,  and 
several  other  Quakers,  in  their  Treatise  of  Oaths.  In  that  Book  Mr.  Pen 
saith,  To  attest  the  Name  of  Cod  in  any  Terrestrial  Matter,  is  a  breach  of 
Christ's  Command,  Matt.  5.  34,  37. 


George  KcitKs  Journal.  25 

Again,  in  Mr.  Pen's  Key,  which  hath  had  several  impressions  (Pag.  36.  of 
one  impression)  he  saith,  The  Quakers  can  go  no  further  than  Yea,  and  Nay, 
[viz.  in  their  declarations  in  Civil  Judicatures,  &c]  This  Mr.  Pen  knoweth 
is  contradicted,  (if  not  by  himself)  by  the  frequent  practice  of  Quakers,  both 
in  England  and  America,  who,  beyond  their  Yea,  and  Nay,  solemnly  call 
God  to  Witness  in  their  affirmations  before  Magistrates,  which,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  most  judicious,  is  the  substance  of  an  Oath,  and  without  all 
controversie  is  more  than  Yea,  and  Nay.  And  this  the  prevailing  Party  of 
the  Quakers  in  England  have  not  only  practised,  but  with  no  small  endeavour 
have  Petitioned  to  be  granted  unto  them,  by  Act  of  Parliament,  and  which 
they  have  obtained.  It  is  true,  there  is  a  small  Party  of  Quakers  opposite  to 
this  Practice,  who  think  it  is  a  going  off  from  their  Ancient  Testimony  of 
Yea,  and  Nay.  But  the  other  Party  has  carried  it  against  them.  And  yet 
they  would  have  it  believed,  they  are  all  in  perfect  Unity  of  Principles, 
whereas  they  are  much  divided,  as  in  their  Principles  about  Swearing  and 
Renting,  so  in  diverse  others.  A  Quaker  of  good  Note  among  them,  has  not 
only  declared  for  Baptism,  as  being  an  Institution  of  Christ,  but  has  actually 
received  it,  but  not  by  any  Minister  of  the  Church  of  England,  (as  I  am 
informed)  which  I  wish  he  had  done,  if  he  was  not  formerly  Baptized.  I  am 
also  informed,  that  he  has  declared  his  mind  concerning  the  Lord's  Supper, 
that  it  is  of  Divine  Institution.  I  hope  God  in  due  time  will  further  enlighten 
him  to  see,  how  grosly  the  Quakers  have  erred  in  other  things,  as  much  as  in 
their  throwing  away  those  Two  Divine  Institutions,  and  calling  them,  worldly 
Rudiments  and  beggarly  Elements,  which  Mr.  Pen  said,  in  Print,  The 
Quakers  have  been  led  to  reject  by  the  same  Spirit  by  luhich  Paul  [and  the 
Apostles)  were  led  to  reject  Circumcision  ;  yet  I  have  not  heard  that  the 
Quakers  have  cast  him  out  of  their  Communion,  for  his  taking  up,  what  both 
he,  and  they,  had  so  long  thrown  away.  I  hope  he  is  not  of  his  Brethrens 
Opinion,  that  the  Light  within  him,  and  within  all  Men,  is  sufficient  to  Sal- 
vation, without  any  thing  else ;  for  if  he  were,  I  cannot  see,  what  need  he 
could  think  he  had,  either  of  Baptism,  or  the  Lord's  Supper,  or  of  the 
Scriptures,  or  of  Christ  without  him,  and  his  precious  Blood,  and  Sacrifice 
upon  the  Cross  for  our  Sins,  and  his  continual  Intercession  for  us  in  Heaven 
with  the  Father  ;  all  which  are  something  else,  than  the  Light  within  him. 

I  happened  in  America,  while  I  was  there  Travelling,  to  see  a  Book  lately 
Printed,  called  New-England  Judged,  having  a  Printed  Appendix  to  it,  by 
John  Whiting  Quaker,  who  has  set  up  of  late  for  a  great  Author  among 
them,  and  who  is  extreainly  ignorant  as  well  as  confident,  to  utter  Falshoods 
and  abusive  Slanders.  In  his  said  Appendix,  he  utters  a  notorious  Falshood 
upon  me,  as  if  at  Philadelphia,  about  the  Year  1692,  I  had  fained  my  self  a 
Prisoner,  and  to  make  this  Fiction  to  be  believed,  I  had  gone  to  the  Porch  of 
the  Prison,  the  Prison  door  being  shut  against  me,  and  from  the  Porch  of  the 
Prison,  had  writ  and  dated  a  Paper  of  complaint  against  the  Quakers  for  my 
imprisonment ;  and  to  make  his  Reader  take  the  greater  notice  of  it,  he  has 
caused  the  following  Words  to  be  printed  on  the  Margin  in  great  Black 
Letters ;  Note,  George  Keithh-Mock  Imprisonment.  Now  to  prove  the 
notorious  falshood  of  this,  I  need  go  no  further  than  a  Book  of  one  of  his 
Brethren,  viz.  Samuel  Jennings,  Printed  at  London  1694,  called  by  him,  The 
State  of  the  Case,  dx.  wherein,  though  he  has   uttered  many  falshoods,  con- 


26  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

cerning  the  State  of  the  Case,  about  our  differences  in  Principles  of  Religion, 
in  the  Years  1691,  and  1692,  whereof  I  had  largely  detected  him  in  my 
Printed  Reply  to  his  Rook ;  yet  he  saith  true,  in  what  be  did  Report  in  his 
Book,  concerning  two.  Persons>  whom  the  Quakers  had  put  in  Prison,  the  one 
for  Printing  a  sheet  of  mine,  I  called  an  Appeal,  &c.  and  the  other  for  selling 
one  or  two  of  them  when  Printed  ;  the  Name  of  the  Printer  is  William 
Bradford,  the  Name  of  the  other  is  John  Mackcomb.  Now  concerning  them 
the  said  Quaker,  Samuel  Jennings,  Reports,  that  they  signed  a  Paper  from 
the  Prison,  when  they  signed  it  in  the  Entry  common  to  the  Prison,  and  the 
next  House.  Thus  he  gives  the  true  matter  of  Fact,  and  tells  truly  who 
Signed  that  Paper  in  the  Entry  or  Porch,  which  were  those  two  above- 
named  persons,  but  mentions  not  me,  as  being  concerned  in  Signing  that 
Paper,  either  in  the  Entry  or  Porch,  or  any  where  else.  And  to  be  sure  if  I 
had  been  one  of  the  Persons,  who  had  Signed  that  Paper,  he  would  have 
told  the  World  of  it,  as  thereby  thinking  to  have  some  great  matter  against 
me.  For  he  chargeth  it  upon  these  two  abovenamed  Persons,  William 
Bradford,  and  John  Mackcomb,  that  it  was  deceit  in  them  to  Sign  a  Paper 
from  the  Prison,  when  they  were  not  in  the  Prison,  but  in  the  Porch  or 
Entry  of  it,  as  he  saith.  In  my  Answer  to  him,  I  have  shewed  it  was  no 
deceit,  nor  had  any  thing  blarne-worthy  ;  the  Case  was  this.  They  were 
Prisoners  by  a  Warrant  from  some  Quaker  Justices,  for  the  Fact  above- 
mentioned,  and  had  been  detained  in  Prison  for  some  time,  and  were  ordered 
to  be  kept  in  Prison  until  the  next  Court,  unless  they  gave  security  by  Bonds 
to  Answer  at  the  next  Court.  After  some  time  the  Jay  lor  by  favour  let  them 
go  home,  but  still  they  were  Prisoners,  not  being  released  by  any  Judicatory ; 
and  the  Quaker  Justices  delaying  to  bring  them  to  a  Tryal,  they  went  to  the 
Prison  to  Write,  and  Sign  their  Petition  from  the  Prison,  to  have  their  Tryal 
at  the  next  Sessions  ;  but  it  happened  that  the  Jaylor  was  gone  abroad,  and 
had  the  Key  to  the  Prison  with  him,  so  that  they  could  not  get  in.  Now  I 
see  no  deceit  or  insincerity  in  this,  more  than  in  the  common  Practice  of 
many  Quakers,  who  have  printed  Records  of  their  suffering  Imprisonment  (for 
not  paying  Tithes)  some  Years,  and  yet  they  oft  had  liberty  to  go  home,  by 
favour  of  the  Jaylors,  to  my  certain  Knowledge.  But  whether  William 
Bradford  and  John  Mackcomb,  were  guilty  of  deceit  or  not,  is  not  material  to 
the  present  Case  of  John  Whiting  his  Vile  Slander,  as  if  I  had  been  the 
Person,  or  one  of  the  Persons,  who  had  Writ  that  Paper  from  the  Porch  or 
Entry  of  the  Prison.  This  is  sufficient  Proof,  that  what  John  Whiting  has 
thus  Printed  against  me,  was  not  from  the  infallible  Spirit,  and  that  he  is 
therefore  by  George  Fox's  Sentence,  a  Deceiver. 

September  10,  1702.  We  came  from  Newport  on  Rhod-Island  and  crossed 
the  Ferry  over  to  Naraganset,  and  lodged  that  Night  at  Mr.  Balfures  House, 
who  Entertained  us  very  kindly  and  hospitably,  and  next  day  we  Travelled 
about  25  Miles,  and  lodg'd  at  Mr.  Sextons,  an  Inn-keeper ;  and  next  day  we 
safely  arrived  at  New-London  in  Connecticot  Colony,  and  Government,  which 
stands  by  a  Navigable  River. 

Septemb.  13,  Sunday.  Mr.  Talbot  Preached  there  in  the  Forenoon,  and  I 
Preached  there  in  the  Afternoon,  we  being  desired  so  to  do  by  the  Minister, 
Mr.  Gurdon  Salte7ista.ll,  who  civilly  Kntertained  us  at  his  House,  and 
expressed   his  good   affection  to  the  Church  of  England,  as   did  also  the 


George  KeitKs  Journal.  27 

Minister  at  Hampton,  and  the  Minister  at  Salisbury  abovementioned,  and 
diverse  others  New-England  Ministers  did  the  like.  My  Text  was  Rom.  8.  9. 
The  Auditory  was  large,  and  well  affected.  Col.  Winthrop,  Governour  of  the 
Colony,  after  Forenoon  Sermon,  invited  us  to  Dinner  at  his  House,  and  kindly 
Entertained  us,  both  then,  and  the  next  day. 

Sept.  15,  1702.  We  hired  a  sloop  to  carry  us  from  New-London  to 
Long-Island  over  the  Sound,  being  about  Six  Leagues  Broad,  and  that  day 
we  safely  arrived  at  a  Place  on  Long-Island,  called,  Oyster- Ponds,  about 
Noon,  after  that  we  came  on  Horseback  that  Day  24  Miles,  and  lodged  at 
Mr.  HoweVs  an  Inn-keeper,  the  next  Day  we  Travelled  45  Miles,  to  Seatalkct, 
and  lodged  at  Mr.  Gibs,  Innkeeper;  the  next  Day, being  the  17th  Instant,  we 
Travelled  32  Miles,  all  upon  Long-Island,  and  arrived  at  Oysterbay,  where  we 
were  kindly  received,  and  hospitally  entertained  by  Mr.  Edward  White  at  his 
House,  on  free  cost,  for  several  Days,  where  we  staid  to  rest  and  refresh  us. 
He  was  a  Justice  of  Peace,  and  had  been  formerly  a  Quaker,  and  his  Wife 
had  been  a  Quaker  also,  and  was  not  quite  come  off  from  the  Quakers. 

Septcmb.  20,  Sunday.  At  the  Request  of  Mr.  Edward  White,  and  some 
other  Neighbours  in  the  Town,  having  used  the  Church  Prayers  before 
Sermon,  I  Preached  on  Titus  2.  11,  12.  And  that  Day  Mr.  Talbot 
Baptized  a  Child,  at  the  request  of  the  Child's  Mother,  her  Husband  being 
from  home. 

Septemb.  24,  1*705.  I  went  to  the  Quakers  Meeting  at  Flushing  on 
Long-Island,  accompanied  with  Mr.  Talbot  and  the  Reverend  Mr.  Vesey,  the 
Church  of  England  Minister  at  New- York,  and  diverse  other  Persons 
belonging  to  Jamaica  (a  Town  on  Long-Island,)  well  affected  to  the  Church 
of  England.  After  some  time  of  silence,  I  began  to  speak,  standing  up  in  the 
Gallery,  where  their  Speakers  use  to  stand  when  they  speak ;  but  I  was  so 
much  interrupted  by  the  Clamour  and  Noise,  that  several  of  the  Quakers 
made,  forbidding  me  to  speak,  that  I  could  not  proceed.  After  this,  one  of 
their  Speakers  "began  to  Speak,  and  continued  Speaking  about  an  Hour,  the 
whole  was  a  ramble  of  nonsense  and  perversion  of  Scripture,  with  gross 
reflections  both  on  the  Church,  and  the  Government  there.  Several  times 
speaking  of  Christ,  he  said,  while  Christ  was  in  that  Prepared  Body,  which  is 
a  common  Phrase  among  them  ;  whereby  they  plainly  intimate,  they  do  not 
believe  he  is  now  in  that"  Body,  or  that  he  has  any  thing  of  that  Body,  which 
he  had  on  Earth.  Nor  do  they  own  that  Christ  has  any  Body  but  his 
Church,  or  such  a  Body  as  he  had  from  all  Eternity,  and  is  every  where  ;  all 
which  hath  been  sufficiently  proved  out  of  the  Printed  Books  of  their  most 
noted  Authors.  He  said,  they  (viz.  the  Quakers)  believed  in  that  very  Christ 
that  died  at  Jerusalem  ;  and  a  little  after  he  said,  that,  that  Christ,  was  the 
Seed  that  was  oppressed  by  Sin  in  Men.  He  Preached  against  all  Creeds, 
and  accused  all  their  Adversaries  that  they  kicked  against  the  Spirit.  This 
was  a  reflexion  upon  the  Church  of  England,  because  she  doth  not  hold,  that 
Men  have  those  extraordinary  Gifts  of  the  Spirit,  to  Preach,  and  Pray,  as  the 
Quaker  Preachers  pretend  to  have  ;  but  as  they  have  it  not,  it  is  evident  they 
have  an  extraordinary  impudence  to  father  all  their  ignorant  and  nonsensical 
Expressions,  and  perversions  of  Scripture,  (which  they  commonly  utter  in  their 
Meetings)  upon  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  is  a  most  dreadful  Sin.  He  said, 
Yice  was  set  up,  which  was  a  reflexion  upon  the  Government  there,  because 


28  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

some  were  lately  made  Justices  of  the  Peace  on  Long-Island,  that  were  not 
greatly  affected  to  Quakerism.  After  he  had  done,  he  went  away  out  of  the 
Meeting  in  all  hast,  fearing  (I  suppose)  he  should  be  questioned  about  the 
things  he  had  said.  I  stood  up  again  to  speak  in  their  Meeting,  but  they 
made  a  new  interruption,  and  threatened  me  with  being  guilty  of  the  breach 
of  the  Act  of  Toleration,  and  that  by  my  so  doing,  I  had  put  my  self  Twenty 
Pounds  in  the  Queen's  Debt;  I  told  them,  I  had  not  broke  the  Act  of 
Toleration,  for  I  made  no  interruption,  but  was  silent  all  the  while  their 
Preacher  was  speaking ;  but  they  had  broke  the  Act  of  Toleration,  by 
interrupting  me,  when  I  began  to  Speak  ;  they  told  me,  I  had  no  right  to 
Speak  in  their  Meetings.  I  answered,  I  had  better  right  to  Speak  in  these 
Meeting-Houses,  than  any  of  their  Speakers  had  ;  at  this  they  seemed  greatly 
to  Wonder ;  and  asked  how  I  could  make  that  appear,  for  the  House  and 
Ground  was  theirs,  which  they  had  bought  with  their  Mony,  and  to  which 
I  had  contributed  nothing  :  And  one  of  them  was  so  hot,  that  he  commanded 
me  to  go  out  of  the  House,  for  it  was  his  House,  and  for  me  to  stay  in  his 
House,  against  his  Will,  was  contrary  to  Law,  and  he  could  Prosecute  me. 
I  Answered  him,  it  was  not  his  Property ;  all  who  have  a  Mind  to  come  into 
that  House  at  Meeting  time,  may  come,  it  being  appointed  for  a  Religious 
Meeting -House,  where  all  have  a  common  Right ;  and  according  to  the  Act 
of  Toleration,  ye  are  bound  to  keep  your  Doors  open  where  ye  Meet ;  and  if 
ye  shut  them  against  me,  or  any,  we  may  prosecute  you  by  Law.  But,  said 
they,  How  has  thou  a  better  right  to  speak  in  our  Meeting-House  than  we  ? 
I  told  them,  in  a  double  respect :  First,  that  Meeting-House  was  appointed 
for  the  service  of  Truth,  (which  is  their  own  manner  of  Phrase,)  and  that  what 
was  Truth,  should  be  spoken  in  it,  and  not  falshood  and  error ;  and  there- 
fore, while  I  speak  Truth  in  it,  and  your  Speakers  speak  not  Truth,  but 
falshood  and  errors,  I  have  a  better  right  than  they.  Secondly,  None  of  your 
Speakers  have  any  right  to  Speak  in  your  Meeting-Houses,  because  ye  have 
not  your  Meeting-Houses  Licensed,  as  the  Act  of  Toleration  expressly  requires ; 
nor  have  any  of  your  Preachers  qualified  themselves  as  that  Act  express, 
viz.  to  Sign  to  Thirty-four  of  the  Articles  of  Religion  of  the  Church  of 
England  ;  this  they  have  not  done,  nor  can  do,  because  the  Quakers  Princi- 
ples are  contrary  to  most  of  them,  or  rather  indeed  to  them  all,  whereas  I  am 
qualified,  as  the  Act  requires.  They  accused  me,  that  I  came  not  in  Love  to 
Preach  to  them,  but  was  hired  by  the  Bishops  to  come,  and  that  the  Love  of 
Money  brought  me  to  America,  and  not  Love  to  their  Souls.  I  told  them  it 
was  a  false  accusation. 

I  owned  it,  that  God  had  raised  up  Friends  to  assist  me  with  Money,  in 
such  a  chargeable  Undertaking  ;  but  this  was  no  more  than  what  the  Quakers 
at  London  did,  who  largely  supply  the  Travelling  Friends  who  come  over 
from  England  into  America,  with  Money  out  of  their  National  Stock,  beside 
what  they  gather  up  in  the  several  Meetings  in  America,  which  they  visit. 
They  replyed,  they  never  knew  any  Mony  given  to  any  Travelling  Friends,  by 
their  Meeting.  And  they  asked  me,  if  I  had  any  Mony  from  them,  while  I 
was  a  Travelling  Friend  among  them  ?  Yes,  said  I,  I  have  had  from  this 
very  Meeting.  They  asked  of  whom,  and  when  ?  I  told  them,  of  an  honest 
Woman,  yet  living  not  far  distant ;  they  replyed,  Art  not  thou  a  Treacherous 
Man  to  tell  this  ?     Why,  said  I,  to  tell  the  Truth,  in  answer  to  your  Question. 


George  Keith's  Journal.  29 

It  is  a  tiling  well  enough  known  to  themselves,  that  they  have  frequent 
Collections,  at  their -Monthly,  and  Quarterly  Meetings,  one  chief  use  whereof 
is,  to  furnish  the  Travelling  Friends  with  Mony. 

One  of  the  Quakers  at  that  Meeting  in  Flushing,  that  made  the  interrup- 
tion, did  openly  accuse  me  in  the  Meeting,  that  I  had  defrauded  the  Poor  of 
50  Pounds  of  Mony,  which  Miles  Forster  had  delivered  to  me  to  give  the 
Quakers  at  London,  for  the  use  of  their  Poor,  being  part  of  what  Colonel 
West  had  left  to  them  by  Legacy  in  his  Will,  (whereof  Miles  Forster  was  the 
sole  Executor.)      The  which   Scandalous  accusation,  the  Quakers  of  Long 
Island  had  industriously  spread  over  the  Country  against  me  ;  and  the  same 
was  objected  against  me,  by  a  Quaker  at  Burlington  in  West-Jersey,  in  the 
hearino-  of  many  present.     But  as  I  then  declared,  and  I  now  declare,  I  had 
no  Mony  delivered  to  me  by  Miles  Forster,  to  give  to  the  Quakers  at  London, 
whether  Poor  or  Rich.     At  my  coming  from  America,  in  the  Year  1693,  the 
said  Miles  Forster  gave  me  a  Bill  of  40  Pounds  English  Mony  to  be  paid  me 
at  London,  to  my  own  proper  use,  (he  being  indebted  to  me,  in  some  part  of 
the  like  Sum.)     But  the  Mony  of  this  Bill,  was  no  part  of  the  Poors  Mony, 
but  wa%  Miles  Forster  s  own  Mony,  which  he  drew  by  Bill,  upon  a  Person  at 
London,  that  did  owe  him  a  far  greater  Sum  ;  the  which  Bill  was  duly  paid 
to  me.     When  he  gave  me  that  Bill,  he  told  me  what  was  the  occasion  and 
cause,  that  moved  him  to  do  it,  which  was  this,  That  to  his  certain  knowledge, 
Gol.  West,  out  of  the  special  respect  and  love  he  had  to  me,  by  his  reading 
my  Books,  about  the  time  the  difference  betwixt  the  Quakers  of  Pensilvania, 
and  me,  about  matters  of  Religion  began,  had  designed  to  give  me  some 
considerable  Benefaction ;   and  in  order  to  that,  when  he  lay  sick  at  Miles 
Forster 's  House  at  Neiu-  York,  he  desired  Myles  Forster  to  Write  to  me  to 
come  to  him.     I  was  then  living  with  my  Family  at  Philadelphia,  distant 
about  an  Hundred  Miles  from  Neiu-York.     After  I  received  this  Message,  I 
made  all  the  hast  I  could  to  go  to  JVeiv-York  unto  him.     But  it  so  happened, 
that  Col.  West  was  Dead  and  Buried  before  I  arrived.     To  answer  the  intent 
of  Col.  West,  Myles  told  me,  he  gave  me  that  Bill,  to  be  paid  to  me  at 
London,  as  some  gratification  to  me,  for  the  respect  Col.  West  had  to  me,  and 
also  for  the  labour,  and  charge,  I  was  at  in  my  Journey,  to  come  unto  him. 
But  none  of  the  Money  of  that  Bill,  was  any  part  of  what  Col.  West  left  in 
his  Will  to  the  Poor  of  the  Quakers  at  London,  but  was  Mgles  Forster's  own 
Money,  which  was  owing  to  him  at  London  by  the  Person  on  whom  he  drew 
that  Bill.     If  Myles  Forster  paid  himself  again  that  Money  he  gave  me  to  my 
own  proper  use,  out  of  that  part  of  Col.  West's  Estate,  that  was  left  in  Legacy 
to  the  Poor  of  the  Quakers  at  London,  Myles  Forster  was  to  be  accountable 
to -the  Quakers,  if  they  have  any  right  to  it,  for  his  so  doing,  and  not  I ;  for  it 
was  simply  Miles  Forster's  benefaction  to  me,  though  he  gave  it  to  me  on 
Col.  West's  Account ;  Col.  West  having  left  to  him,  not  only  a  considerable 
Legacy,  as  being  his  Executor,  but  had  also  left  to  him  in  his  Will,  full  Power 
to  dispose  of  what  Money  was  left  to  the  Poor  of  the  Quakers  at  London,  to 
what  Quakers,  or  what  sort  of  Quakers  he  thought  fit ;  for  no  Names  of 
Quakers,  nor  sort  of  Quakers  were  mentioned  in  the  Will,  nor  no  Name  of 
any  Meeting  of  Quakers   mentioned  therein,  (there  being  at  that  time  two 
sorts  of  Quakers   at  London  opposite  to  one  another)  and  Miles  Forster 
informed  me,  that  much,  if  not  most  of  what  was  left  by  Col.  West  in  his 


30  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Will  to  the  Poor  of  the  Quakers  at  London,  was  depending  on  a  Condition 
expressed  in  the  Will,  that  was  not  performed,  and  by  somewhat  that 
happened  could  not,  nor  even  can  be  performed ;  and  consequently  the  far 
greatest  part  thereof,  which  was  much  more  than  the  contents  of  that  Bill 
which  he  gave  to  me,  did  wholly  belong  by  right  to  him,  being  the  Executor. 
But  the  Quakers  and  Miles  Forster,  are  to  debate  the  case  betwixt  them. 
The  Quakers  Lawyers  at  New-  York,  have  sufficiently  informed  them,  that 
they  can  have  no  Claim  or  Action  against  me,  for  what  I  received  of  Miles 
Forster.  And  Miles  Forster's  Lawyers,  have  declared  their  Mind  in  the 
Case,  that  the  Quakers  can  have  no  right  to  sue  him,  for  what  he  gave  to  me, 
whether  he  gave  it  out  of  the  Money  left  in  Col.  West's  Will  to  the  Poor,  or 
otherwise.  Because,  by  the  Will,  he  had  Power  to  give  to  me  what  part  of 
it  he  pleased,  as  well  as  to  any  other.  And  when  I  was  lately  with  Miles 
Forster,  at  Amboy  in  East-Jerssy,  where  he  now  lives ;  he  told  me  some 
London  Quakers  had  sent  their  Letter  of  Attorney  to  some  Quakers  of  New- 
York  Province,  to  demand  of  him  the  Poors  Money,  that  was  left  to  their 
Poor  of  London,  by  the  Will  of  Col.  West,  and  that  they  of  New-York  and 
he  had  some  Meeting  about  it;  and  that  he  asked  them,  By  what* Right 
these  Quakers  at  London  did  demand  that  Money,  more  than  any  other 
Quakers  there,  seeing  their  Names  were  not  in  the  Will,  nor  the  Names  of 
any  other,  either  of  Persons,  or  Meetings.  But  to  this  they  could  give  no 
satisfactory  Answer,  and  so  the  Matter  remains  in  suspence  betwixt  them. 

September  27,  1702.  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Hampsted  on  Long-Lsland 
in  the  Afternoon,  where  was  such  a  Multitude  of  People,  that  the  Church 
could  not  hold  them,  so  that  many  stood  without  at  the  Doors  and  Windows 
to  hear ;  who  were  generally  well  affected,  and  greatly  desired  that  a  Church 
of  England  Minister  should  be  settled  among  them  ;  which  has  been  done, 
for  the  Reverend  Mr.  John  Thomas  is  now  their  Minister.  My  Text  was, 
Luke  10.42. 

September  28.     We  arrived  at  the  Ferry  by  New-York. 

September  30,  Wednesday.  At  the  Request  of  Mr.  Vesey,  the  Minister  at 
New- York,  I  preached  at  the  Weekly  Fast,  which  was  appointed  by  the 
Government,  by  reason  of  the  great  Mortality  that  was  then  at  Neiu-York, 
where  above  Five  Hundred  died  in  the  Space  of  a  few  Weeks ;  and  that  very 
Week,  about  Seventy  died.     My  Text  was,  Jam.  5.  13. 

October  1.  From  the  Ferry  by  New-York,  we  came  to  Reedhook  on  Long- 
Lsland,  where  we  waited  for  a  fair  Passage,  and  next  Day  we  got  over  to 
Staten-Island,  and  from  Staten-Lsland  to  Amboy  in  East-Jersey. 

October  3,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Amboy  in  East-Jersey;  the  Auditory 
was  small:  My  Text  was  Tit.  2.  11,  12.  But  such  as  were  there,  were  well 
affected  ;  some  of  them,  of  my  former  Acquaintance,  and  others  who  had  been 
formerly  Quakers  but  were  come  over  to  the  Church,  particularly  Miles 
Forster,  and  John  Barclay  (Brother  to  Robert  Barclay,  who  published  the 
Apology  for  the  Quakers)  the  Place  has  very  few  Inhabitants.  We  were 
several  Days  kindly  entertained  by  Miles  Forster  at  his  House  there. 

October  10,  1*702.  Sunday.  We  went  to  the  Meeting  of  the  Quakers  at 
Toponemes,  in  Freehold  in  East-Jersey,  who  used  to  keep  a  separate  Meeting 
from  the  other  Quakers,  for  their  gross  Errors  ;  and  joined  with  me  and  my 
Friends  in  the  Separation,  about  the  Year  1692  ;  and  it  happened  to  be  their 


George  Keith 's  Journal.  31 

Yearly  Meeting,  where  diverse  came  from  West-Jersey  and  Pensilvania  : 
One  of  their  Preachers  pray'd  and  preached  before  I  began.  After  he  had 
done,  I  used  some  of  the  Church  Collects  I  had  by  heart,  in  Prayer;  and 
after  that,  I  preached  on  JI(b.  5.  9.  There  was  a  considerable  Auditory  of 
diverse  sorts  ;  some  of  the  Church,  and  some  Presbyterians,  besides  the 
Quakers ;  they  heard  me  without  any  Interruption,  and  the  Meeting  ended 
peaceably.  Their  two  Speakers  lodged  in  the  same  House  with  me  that 
Evening,"  at  the  House  of  Thomas  Boels,  formerly  a  Quaker,  but  is  now  of 
the  Church.  I  had  some  free  Discourse  with  them  about  several  weighty 
things :  I  told  them,  so  far  as  they  used  their  Gifts  to  instruct  the  Ignorant, 
and  reclaim  them  from  the  vile  Errors  of  Quakerism,  they  were  to  be  com- 
mended ;  but  that  they  had  taken  upon  them  to  Administer  Baptism  and  the 
Lord's  Supper  to  any,  they  were  greatly  to  be  blamed,  having  no  due  external 
Call,  or  Ordination,  so  to  do. 

October  11,  Monday.  We  met  again  the  next  Day,  and  had  the  like 
Auditory  :  Their  other  Speaker  aray'd  and  preached,  and  after  that,  I  pray'd, 
using  the  same  Collects  as  the  Day  before,  and  preached  on  1  Thes.  5.  19. 
without  any  Interruption,  and  the  Meeting  peaceably  ended.  I  could  blame 
nothing  in  the  Matter  of  their  second  Speaker,  nor  in  the  former,  except  where 
he  said  in  his  Discourse,  That  they  who  were  in  Christ,  need  not  fear  Hell. 
I  endeavoured  to  clear  the  Matter  in  my  Discourse,  by  distinguishing  betwixt 
an  Absolute  Fear  of  Hell,  such  as  the  Wicked  ought  to  have,  and  a  Con- 
ditional Fear,  which  Good  Men,  even  such  who  are  in  Christ,  ought  to  have  ; 
and  about  this  he  and  I  had  some  private  Discourse  also  betwixt  us,  but  he 
was  dissatisfied,  and  would  not  own,  That  any  who  icere  in  Christ  ought  to 
have  any  Fear  of  Hell,  so  much  as  Conditional. 

October  17,  Sunday,  I  preached  at  Midleton  in  Hast- Jersey,  where,  before 
Sermon,  Mr.  Talbot  read  the  Church  Prayers,  and  I  preached  on  Mat.  28.  19, 
20.  One  main  part  of  my  Sermon  being  to  prove  Infant-Baptism  to  be 
included  in  the  Apostles  Commissions,  as  well  as  that  of  Adult  Persons,  there 
being  several  of  the  Auditory  who  were  Anabaptists,  who  heard  me  civilly, 
without  any  Interruption  ;  but  most  of  the  Auditory  were  Church  People,  or 
well  affected  to  the  Church. 

October  2-1,  Sunday,  1702.  I  preached  at  Shreiosbury  in  East-Jersey  at 
a  House  near  the  Quakers  Meeting-house,  and  it  happened  that  it  was  the 
Time  of  the  Quakers  Yearly  Meeting  at  Shrewsbury  :  My  Text  was  2  Pet.  2. 
1,  2.  The  Church  Prayers  being  read  before  Sermon,  we  had  a  great  Con- 
gregation, generally  well  affected  to  the  Church,  and  diverse  of  them  were  of 
the'Church,  and  that  Day  I  sent  some  Lines  in  Writing  to  the  Quakers  at 
their  Yearly  Meeting  ;  which  Mr.  Talbot  did  read  to  them  in  their  Meeting, 
wherein  I  desired  them  to  give  me  a  Meeting  with  them  some  Day  of  that 
Week,  before  their  Meetings  were  concluded  ;  in  which  Meeting,  I  offered  to 
detect  great  Errors  in  their  Authors  Books,  and  they  should  have  full  Liberty 
to  auswer  what  they  had  to  say  in  their  Vindication.  But  they  altogether 
refused  my  Proposition  ;  and  several  Papers  pass'd  betwixt  us  :  In  some  of 
their  PapeVs,  they  used  gross  Reflections  on  the  Church  of  England,  as  much 
as  on  me.  We  continued  our  Meetings  three  days,  as  the  Quakers  did  theirs. 
And  the  second  Day  of  our  Meeting  at  the  same  House,  where  we  had 
formerly  met,  I  detected   the  Quakers  Errors  out  of  their  printed  Books, 


Pag. 

292. 

Pag. 

515. 

Pag. 

698. 

Pag. 

413. 

Pag. 

27.  : 

32  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

particularly  out  of  the  Folio  Book  of  Edw.  Burroughs  Works,  collected  and 
published  by  the  Quakers  after  bis  Death,  and  did  read  the  Quotations  to  the 
Auditory,  laying  the  Pages  open  before  such  as  were  willing  to  read  them, 
for  their  better  Satisfaction,  as  some  did  read  them. 

Some  of  the  Quotations  were  such  as  follow. 

Page  128.  (i.  e.  the  Ministers)  Prophecy  and  Preaching  would  soon  be 
ended,  if  they  had  not  the  Scripture  to  preach  their  Imaginations  upon. 

Pag.  273.  Quakers  Sufferings  greater  and  more  unjust  than  the  Suffer- 
ings of  Christ  and  the  Apostles. 

Pag.  19.  He  denies  a  written  Word. — No  other  Word  (saith  he)  do  I  own 
but  Christ. 

Pag.  402.  He  will  revoke  if  any  can  prove,  that  the  Scriptures  call  them- 
selves the  Word. 

Pag.  484.  The  Spirit  of  God,  the  only  standing  Pule  to  walk  by,  not  the 
Scriptures. 

The  Flesh  of  Chris  fs  Body  Infinite. 
God  and  the  Spirit,  not  Persons,  but  Infinite  Beings. 
They  (i.  e.  the  Quakers)  are  One  with  the  Father  in  Nature. 
All  that  Christians  practise  is  become  Idolatry. 
That  which  sinned  could  not  be  saved,  <£c. 

October  26,  1702.  Tuesday.  I  preached  again  at  Shrewsbury  on  Mat. 
7.  13.  In  all  these  Meetings  at  Shrewsbury,  Midletown,  and  Toponemes,  or 
where  ever  else,  on  Nethersi7iks,  Mr.  Lewis  Moris,  and  diverse  others  of  best 
Note  in  that  Countiy,  frequented  the  Congregations  and  Places  where  we 
preached,  and  did  kindly  entertain  us  at  their  Houses,  where  we  lodged  as  we 
travelled  too  and  again ;  particularly  Mr.  Moris,  Mr.  Lines,  Mr.  Johnston, 
Mr.  Boels,  and  Mr.  Read ;  Mr.  Lines  being  in  Priest's  Orders,  has  oft 
preached  among  them,  and  by  Preaching,  and  Conferences  frequently  with 
Quakers  and  other  sorts  of  People,  as  also  by  his  pious  Conversation,  has 
done  much  Good  among  them,  and  been  very  instrumental  to  draw  them  off 
from  their  Errors,  and  bring  them  over  to  the  Church. 

October  29,  1702.     We  arrived  at  Burlington  in  West-Jersey. 

November  1,  Sunday.  We  preached  in  the  Town-House  at  Burlington, 
(the  Church  not  being  then  built)  and  we  had  a  great  Auditory  of  diverse 
sorts,  some  of  the  Church,  and  some  of  the  late  Converts  from  Quakerism. 
Mr.  Talbot  preached  before  Noon,  and  I  in  the  Afternoon.  My  Text  was, 
John  17.  3.  Col.  Hamilton,  then  Governour  of  West- Jersey,  was  present 
both  Forenoon  and  Afternoon,  and  at  his  Invitation  we  dined  with  him. 

November  3.  At  Burlington  I  detected  the  Quakers  Errors  out  of  their 
great  Authors,  George  Fox  his  great  Mystery,  and  Edioard  Burroughs  Folio 
Book,  and  others,  having  given  the  Quakers  Preachers  Notice  two  Days 
before,  to  come  and  defend  their  Principles  and  Authors  ;  but  none  of  them 
would  appear  in  the  Cause. 

November  5.  We  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  and  were  kindly  received  by 
the  two  Ministers  there,  and  the  Church  People,  and  especially  by  the  late 
Converts  from  Quakerism,  who  were  become  zealous  Members  of  the  Church. 

November  8,  Sunday.  I  preached  in  the  Church  of  Philadelphia,  at  the 
Minister's  Request,  on  2  Pet.  3,  15,  16.  in  the  Afternoon.  Mr.  Talbot 
preached  there  in  the  Forenoon.     And  again  I  preached  another  Sermon,  on 


George  KeiiKs  Journal.  33 

the  same,  that  Evening,  after  six  a  Clock,  (it  being  usual  once  a  Month  to 
preach  an  Evening-Sermon  in  that  Town.)  We  had  a  very  great  Auditory, 
so  that  the  Church  could  not  contain  them,  but  many  stayed  without  and 
heard. 

That^Week  a  Meeting  of  the  Clergy  being  appointed  to  meet  together  at 
Neiv-York  by  general  Consent,  we  accordingly  did  meet,  being  Seven  in 
number  ;  at  our  Meeting  we  drew  up  an  Account  of  the  State  of  the  Church 
in  these  American  Parts  of  Pensilvania,  West  and  East-Jersey,  and  New- 
York  Province ;  a  Copy  whereof  we  sent  to  the  Honourable  Society  at 
London,  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts.  Colonel 
Nicolson,  Governour  of  Virginia,  to  encourage  us  to  meet,  was  so  generous 
to  bear  our  Charges,  (I  mean  of  all  of  us  that  lived  not  at  New-  York)  beside 
his  other  great  and  generous  Benefactions  to  the  Building  and  Adorning  many 
Churches  lately  built  in  these  Parts,  whereof  a  particular  Account  has  been 
given  to  the  Honourable  Society. 

November  15,  1702.  I  preached  at  New-York  on  Revel.  3.  20.  being 
Sacrament-Day. 

November  22,  Sunday.  I  preached  again  at  New-York,  on  Rom.  6.  IT, 
18.  in  the  Forenoon,  and  Mr.  Talbot  in  the  Afternoon.  My  Lord  Cornbury, 
Governour  of  New-York  and  the  Jerseys,  was  very  kind  to  us,  and  at  his 
Invitation,  we  did  eat  at  his  Table  both  Sundays  and  other  Times. 

November  26,  Thursday.  I  Preached  at  Hampsted  on  Lang-Island,  on 
Acts  26.  18. 

November  29, 1702.     I  Preached  again  at  Hampsted,  on  Ueb.  8. 10, 11, 12. 
Sunday,  December  3,   1702.      I  visited   again  the  Quakers   Meeting   at 
Flushing  on  Long-Island,  having  obtained  a  Letter  from  my  Lord  Cornbury, 
to  Two  Justices  of  Peace  to  go  along  with  me,  to  see  that  the  Quakers  should 
not  interrupt  me,  as  they  had  formerly  done  :  But  notwithstanding  the  Two 
Justices  that  came  along  with  me,  to  signifie  my  Lord  Cornburfs  Mind,  by 
his  Letter  to  them,  which  was  read  to  them  in  their  Meeting  by  Mr.  Talbot, 
they  used  the  like  interruption  as  formerly,  and  took  no  notice  of  my  Lord 
Cornbury' 's  Letter,  more  than  if  it  had  been  from  any  private  Person.     They 
renewed   their  former  accusation  against  me,  that  I  had  broke  the  Act  of 
Toleration  ;  I  replyed,  I  had  not  broke  it,  for  I  did  not  interrupt  any  of  them  ; 
they  answered,  I  interrupted  their  silent  Worship  ;  I  said,  I  knew  no  Clause 
in  that  Act,  that  forbid  the  interruption  of  their  silent  Worship.     I  brought 
the  Printed  Act  of  Toleration  with  me  to  their  Meeting,  and  Mr.  Talbot  did 
Read  several  Passages   out  of  it  to  them,  to  shew  that  they  had  neither 
qualified  their  Meeting-Houses,  nor  their  Preachers,  as  the  Act  required. 
But  notwithstanding  they  objected  the  Act  of  Toleration  against  me ;  when  I 
objected  it  against  them,  they  said,  that  Act  did  not  extend  to  America  ; 
Behold  their  Partiality  !     We  stayed  and  heard  three  of  their  Speakers  one 
after  another,  though  it  was  very  grievous  to  us  to  hear  so  much  nonsense, 
and  perversion  of  Scripture,  uttered  by  them ;  and  all  this  upon  pretence  of 
being  moved  by  the   Spirit  of  God.      Their  chief  Speaker,  who  is  a  most 
ignorant  Person,  said,  Balak  had  sent  Balaam  to  Curse  the  People  of  God  : 
His  Sense  and  perverse  Application  of  that  historical  Passage  of  Scripture,  is 
easie  to  understand  without  a   Commentary.      After  they  had  done,  they 
generally  went  away,  Speakers  and  others  ;  bnt  many,  who  were  not  Quakers, 

3 


34  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

stayed  and  heard  me  resume  and  detect  the  gross  Perversions  and  Misappli- 
cations of  the  Scriptures,  which  they  had  made.    And  after  this,  I  detected  out 
of  a  Book  of  George  Whitehead,  called,  The  Divinity  of  Christ,  his  vile 
Error  concerning  Christ,  both  with  respect  to  his  Godhead  and  Manhood,  and 
I  did  read  the  Passages  out  of  his  Book  in  the  Hearing  of  the  Auditory.     In 
his  said  Book,  he  blames  his  Opponent,  Thomas  Vincent,  for  affirming,  that 
the  Son  proceeded  from  the  Father  by  an  eternal  Act  of  Generation,  and 
chargeth  it  with  Confusion  and  Nonsense.     Also  in  the  same  Book  he  brings 
many  Places  of  Scripture,  all  which  he  grossly  perverts,  to  prove  that  Christ 
suffered  as  God.     And  in  the  Appendix  to  his  Book,  he  blames  his  Opponent, 
Th  Danson,  for  saying,  Christ,  as  Man,  had  a  created  Soul  and  Body  ;  and 
from  his  so  saying  doth  infer,  by  way  of  Query,  Doth  not  this  render  him  a 
Fourth  Person  ?     And  George  Fox  in  his  Preface  to  that  Book,  most  lgno- 
rantly  and  perversely  argues   against  the  Three   Persons  in  the   Godhead, 
inferring,  by  way  of  Qu<ery,  (their  common  way  of  Disputing)  Doth  not  this 
render  them  Four  Persons  ?     Just  as  John  Whiting,  a  late  Author   among 
them  in  his  Book  called,  Judas  and  the    Chief  Priests,  doth  ridicule  that 
Passage  in  the  Litany  of  the  Church    of  England,  0  Holy,  Blessed  and 
Glorious  Trinity,  Three  Persons  and    One    God  ;  inferring,  that  from  this 
there  should  be  Four  Persons  ;  for  that  Three  and  One  are  Four :  Whereas 
in   the  Act  of  Toleration,  there  is  an  express  Clause  that  excludes  all  such 
from  the  Benefit  of  the  Act,  That  either  in  their  Speaking  or  Writing,  deny 
the  Holy  Trinity,  as  taught  and  professed  in  the  Church  of  England  :    And 
yet  these  very  Persons  that  thus  revile  and  ridicule  the  Doctrine  of  the  Holy 
Trinity  as  taught  in  the  Church  of  England,  are  mighty  Pleaders  for  their 
Liberty  by  the  Act  of  Toleration  ;  as  if  not  only  their  Meetings  and  Preach- 
ings were  Tolerated,  but  Authorized  by  the  Act. 

December  6, 1702.     I  Preached  at  Oysterbay  in  the  Town-House,  on  Bom. 
10.  7,  8,  9.     And  we  were  kindly  entertained  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Edward 
White  abovementioned. 
December  13.     I  preached  at  Staten-Island  in  the  Town-House,  on  litus 

2.  11,  12.  ,_   T       .  T 

December  20,  1702.     I  preached   at  Dr.  Johnston's,  at  Nethersinks,  on 

Rev.  22.  14. 

December  25,  Friday,  being  Christmas  day.  I  preached  at  the  House  ot 
Mr.  Morris,  on  Luke  2.  10,  11.  And  after  Sermon,  diverse  of  the  Auditory 
received  with  us  the  Holy  Sacrament ;  both  Mr.  Morris  and  his  Wife,  and 
diverse  others.     Mr.  Talbot  did  administer  it. 

Decemb.  27,  Sunday,  1702.  T  preached  in  Shrewsbury  Town,  near  the 
Quakers  Meeting-House,  at  a  Planter's  House,  and  had  a  considerable 
Auditory  of  Church  People  lately  converted  from  Quakerism,  with  diverse 
others  of  the  Church  of  best  Note  in  that  Part  of  the  Country.  My  Text 
was  Heb.  8.  10,  11.  ,„_.  tf-Jt     . 

January  1,  Friday.  I  preached  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Thomas  Boels  at 
Freehold  in  East-Jersey  :  My  Text  was  Isaiah  59.  20,  21.  Before  Sermon, 
after  the  Church  Prayers,  I  baptized  all  his  Children  ;  two  Sons  and  three 
Daughters.  He  was  formerly  a  Quaker,  but  is  now  come  over  to  the  Church  ; 
also  a  Son  of  Samuel  Dennis,  a  late  Convert  from  Quakerism. 

January  3,  Sunday,  1702.     I  preached  again  at  his  House,  on  the  same 


George  Keith's  Journal.  35 

Text,  and  before  Sermon  Mr.  Talbot  baptized  two  Persons  belonging  to  the 
Family  of  John  Read,  formerly  a  Quaker,  but  was  lately  come  over  to  the 
Church  with  all  his  Children  ;  one  Son  and  two  Daughters.  His  two 
Daughters  were  baptized  by  Mr.  Talbot,  October  24,  1702.  As  also  the 
same  Day  were  baptized  William  Leads  and  his  Sister  Mary  Leads,  late 
Converts  from  Quakerism  to  the  Church  :  And  some  Days  before,  at  the 
House  of  John  Read,  Mr.  Talbot  baptized  the  Wife  of  Alexander  Neaper 
and  his  three  Children.  He  had  been  a  Quaker,  but  was  come  over  to  the 
Church. 

January  4,  1702.  I  came  to  the  House  of  Robert  Ray  in  Freehold  in 
East-Jersey,  accompanied  with  Thomas  Boels,  and  lodged  at  his  House  that 
Night.  At  his  and  his  Wife's  Desire,  I  baptized  all  his  Children  ;  some 
Boys  and  some  Girles,  in  number  Five  :  they  both  had  been  Quakers,  but  he 
was  not  then  come  throughly  off  from  Quakerism. 

January  10,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Burlington  at  the  House  of  Mr. 
Revel,  on  Mat.  6.  33.  And  I  baptized  a  Man's  Child  who  was  a  Church- 
man, where  I  had  a  large  Auditory. 

January  11.  We  came  to  Philadelphia,  and  lodged  at  the  House  of 
Mrs.  Welch  all  the  Time  we  happened  to  be  at  Philadelphia,  until  we  went 
from  Pensilvania  to  Virginia  and  North- Carolina,  in  the  Months  of  April 
and  May,  1702.  She  had  been  a  Quaker  for  many  Years,  and  of  good 
Repute.  About  the  Years  1691  and  1692,  it  pleased  God,  by  my  Means, 
through  the  Illumination  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  give  her  and  her  Daughter 
(who  was  educated  in  Quakerism)  to  see  their  Errors  and  forsake  them ;  and 
also  many  others  in  that  Place  about  that  time ;  who  afterwards  gradually 
came  off  from  Quakerism,  and  at  last  came  clearly  off,  and  joined  to  the 
Church,  whereof  they  are  become  zealous  Members.  She  entertained  us  both 
at  her  House,  (vis.  Mr.  Talbot  and  me)  all  the  time,  abovementioned,  and 
also  after  our  Return,  so  long  as  we  stayed  there,  gratis. 

January  17,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia,  on  John  3.  5.  in  the 
Forenoon,  and  Mr.  Talbot  preached  in  the  Afternoon.  I  preached  again  on 
the  same  Text,  an  Evening  Sermon,  that  begun  after  the  sixth  Hour  at  Night. 
January  24,  Sunday,  1702.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia  on  Mat.  5.  17. 
both  in  the  Forenoon  and  Afternoon ;  Mr.  Evans  the  Minister  of  Phila- 
delphia having  that  Day  been  at  Chester  in  Pensilvania,  to  accompany  Mr. 
Talbot,  who  was  to  preach  there  the  first  Sermon  in  the  Church  after  it  was 
built. 

January  31,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia,  on  Mat.  5.  17.  being 
my  third  Sermon  on  that  Text ;  and  the  same  Day  at  the  sixth  Hour  at 
Night,  I  preached  there  on  1  Cor.  11.  28. 

February  7,  Sunday,  1702.  I  preached  at  Chester  in  Pensilvania,  in  the 
New  Church,  on  Mat.  16.  18. 

February  9,  Tuesday.  I  preached  a  second  Sermon  on  the  same  Text  at 
Concord  in  Pensilvania,  at  the  House  of  John  Hanon. 

February  11.  I  preached  a  third  Sermon  on  that  Text  at  the  House  of 
Thomas  Powel  in  Chester  County ;  both  these  Men,  John  Hanon  and  his 
Wife,  and  Thomas  Powel  and  his  Wife,  had  been  Quakers,  but  are  become 
zealous  Members  of  the  Church,  with  diverse  others  their  Neighbours. 

February  12,  1702.     I  had  a  Dispute  with  Mr.  Killing 'sworth  an  Ana- 


3q  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

baptist  Preacher,  at  the  House  of  Thomas  Powel,  before  a  great  Auditory. 
The  Subjects  of  our  Dispute  were,  First,  About  Set  Forms  of  Prayer 
Secondly,  About  the  manner  of  Baptizing,  whether  by  Dipping  or  Sprinkling 
Thirdly  Whether  Infants  of  Believers  are  proper  Subjects  of  Baptism  * 
Fourthly,  Concerning  Ordination.  It  had  a  good  Effect  upon  several  present ; 
and  I  hope  upon  himself;  for  by  a  Letter  I  received  sometime  ago  from  Mr 
Talbot  this  Mr.  Killingsworth  is  become  well  affected  to  the  Church,  and 
has  preferred  Ground  to  build  a  Church  upon,  and  Wood  to  build  it,  upon 
his  Land  where  he  lives,  at  Salem  in  West  Jersey.        _ 

In  the  first  Week  of  February,  1702,  I  had  a  Meeting  with  the  Separate 
Quakers  and  their  Preachers,  who  left  the  Quakers  Meetings  for  their  gross 
Errors,  and  joined  with  me  about  the  Year  1691.     They  met  at  my  Lodging 
in  Philadelphia,  at   my  Request ;    and  the  next  Week  thereafter,  we  had 
another  Meeting  at  the  same  place.     I  told  them,  that  the  Reason  why  I 
desired  to  have  a  friendly  Meeting  and   Conference  with  them,  was,  that  1 
might  answer  their  Objections  against   their  Conformity  to  the   Church   ot 
England,  and  particularly  their  Objections  against  Infants  Baptism :  Also! 
had  some  Discourse  with   one  of  their   Preachers,  to  convince  him  of  his 
Antinomian  Notion,  and  the  great  Error  and  Hurt  of  it,  mz.  That  they  who 
are  in  Christ,  ought  not  to  fear  Hell  in  any  respect,  not  so  much  as   Condi- 
tionally     He  was  very  earnest  and  warm  in  the  Defence  of  it,  and  pressed  it 
very  much,  that  that  matter  should  be  first  discoursed  upon,  thinking  to  have 
some  Advantage  against  me  in  that  Point;    but  the   Success  proved  the 
contrary,  so  that  his  maintaining  of  it,  offended  diverse  of  his  Hearers  that 
soon  after  they  left  him,  and  came  over  to  the  Church      I  asked  him,  If  they 
who  were  in  Christ,  could  possibly  fall  from  that  good  State.     He  said  they 
might  possibly  fall  from  it.     I  replyed,  then  there  is  the  more  Cause  of  Fear ; 
as  they  who  are  in  a  Castle,  yet  they  have  just  occasion  of  Fear,  conditionally 
lest  if  thev  should  go  out  their  watchful  Enemies  should  destroy  them;  and 
Fear  is  very  useful  to  them  to  keep  them  within.    And  as  God  Almighty  had 
indued  all  living  Creatures  with  a  natural  Fear,  that  is  of  great  use  to  them  to  pre- 
serve their  natural  Life  ;  so  he  had  indued  all  his  Children  with  a  spiritual  Fear, 
that  is  as  useful  and  as  necessary  to  them  to  preserve  their  spiritual  Lite. 
And  as  Hope  is  necessary  to  keep  Men  from  Despair,  so  Fear  is  necessary  to 
keep  them  from  Presumption.     I  mentioned  also  several  Texts  of  Scripture  to 
him,  and  desired  him  to  consider  them,  viz.  Job  31.  24.  1  Cor  9.  2l.Heb.  4 
1    Pom   8   31.     But  he  continued  resolute  in  his  erroneous  Opinion.     JNext 
we  proceeded  to  discourse  about  other  matters,  as,  What  were  their  Objections 
ao-ainst  their  Conforming  to  the  Church,  and  against  Infants  Baptism  <     1 
laboured  very  much,  in  Love,  to  satisfie  them  about  all  those  matters  ;  but  1 
found  they  were  resolute  to  keep  up  their  Separate  Meeting,  though  it  be 
dwindled  away  and  diminished  to  a  very  small  Number  from  what  it  was  at 
the  Beginning,  after  the  Separation,  about  1692,  and  which  continued  several 
Years  until  a  Church  of  England  Congregation  was  set  up  at  Philadelphia  ; 
soon  'after  which,  most  of  that  Party,  both  in  Town  and  Countrey,  and  also 
in  West  and  East-Jersey,  and  some  in  New-York,  came  over  with  good 
Zeal,  and  according  to  good  Knowledge,  to  the  Church,  praisecL be  God  for  it. 
February  14,  Sunday.     I  preached  at  Philadelphia,  on  Acts  26.  22,  23. 
at  the  Evening  Lecture,  after  Six  at  Night. 


George  KeitJCs  Journal.  37 

February  21,  Sunday,  1702.  I  preached  at  Burlington  in  Wkt-Jersey, 
on  Rom.  10.  7,  8,  9.  and  Feb.  22.  I  baptized  the  Wife  of  Mr.  Rob.  Wheeler 
and  his  three  Children,  and  five  others  :  in  all  9  Persons.  He  and  his  Wife 
had  been  Quakers,  but  are  come  over  to  the  Church.  He  did  most  kindly 
and  hospitally  entertain  us  at  his  House,  gratis,  the  several  times  that  we 
travelled  to  and  fro  in  those  Parts :  And  the  like  kind  and  free  Entertain- 
ment he  gives  to  all  Ministers  of  the  Church  that  travel  that  way. 
February  28,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia  on  Mat.  5.  17. 
March  4.  I  had  a  publick  Meeting  at  Philadelphia,  at  the  House  that 
formerly  belonged  to  Zacharia  Whitbane,  to  detect  the  Quakers  Errors,  by 
plain  Quotations  out  of  their  approved  Authors,  particularly  Mr.  Pen's  Sandy 
Foundation  ;  having  before  given  intimation  to  the  chief  Preachers  of  the 
Quakers  at  Philadelphia,  to  defend  their  Principles  and  Authors,  if  they 
could  ;  but  none  of  them  would  appear  in  the  Cause.  One  William  Southsby, 
who  is  a  sort  of  Preacher  among  them,  told  the  Auditory,  he  was  not  come 
to  dispute,  but  to  complain  against  me,  that  I  had  said,  he  denied  the 
Resurrection ;  and  he  came  to  clear  himself,  and  desired  leave  to  read  a  short 
Paper,  wherein  he  gave  Account  of  his  Faith  of  the  Resurrection.  After  he 
had  read  his  Paper,  which  contained  some  Words  he  had  Transcribed  out  of 
1  Cor.  15.  and  some  other  Texts  of  Scripture ;  I  asked  him,  Did  he  believe 
the  Resurrection  of  that  Body  of  his  standing  before  us  ?  He  said,  He  would 
not  Answer  to  that  ensnaring  Question.  By  this  it  plainly  appeared  to  the 
Auditory  that  were  not  Quakers,  that  he  did  not  really  believe  the  Resurrec- 
tion of  the  Body,  even  when  he  seemed  to  confess  it,  after  the  manner  of  all 
Hereticks,  who  profess  to  give  their  Faith  in  Scripture  Words,  but  quite 
contrary  to  the  true  and  real  sense  of  the  Scripture,  as  Arius,  Sabellius, 
Nestorius,  Futyches,  Pelagius,  d-c. 

March  7,  1702,  Sunday.  I  Preached  at  Philadelphia,  on  Philip.  2.  13. 
March  10,  1702.  I  had  a  publick  dispute  at  Philadelphia,  with  one 
William  Davis,  who  had  been  formerly  a  Quaker ;  but  some  time  after  he 
left  them,  he  set  up  for  a  new  Sect-Master,  to  draw  Disciples  after  him,  and 
Published  a  Book  full  of  Blasphemous  Notions,  as  that  there  are  three  Gods  ; 
and  that  none  of  these  three  Gods  are  any  where  but  in  Heaven  ;  and  that 
Christ  as  God,  suffered  upon  the  Cross ;  with  diverse  other  gross  Blasphe- 
mies ;  a  particular  Account  of  which,  I  have  given  in  Print,  Bound  up  with 
other  Printed  Tracts,  which  I  did  present  to  the  Honourable  Society. 

March  14,  Sundav.     I  Preached  at  Philadelphia  a  second  Sermon  on 
Phil.  2.  12,  13. 

March  21,  Sunday.     I  Preached  at  Philadelphia,  on  2  Cor.  12.  9. 
March  28,  Sunday.     I  Preached  at  Philadelphia  a  second  Sermon  on 
2  Cor.  12.  9. 

April  A,  Sunday.  I  Preached  at  Chester  in  Pensilvania  on  Titus  2,  11,  12. 
April  8,  Thursday.  I  Preached  at  New-Castle,  on  1  Thess.  5.  19. 
April  11,  Sunday,  1703.  I  Preached  at  New-Castle,  on  Jude  20.  Mr. 
Talbot  Preached  there  in  the  Afternoon,  and  Baptized  three  Children  of  Mr. 
James  Claypool  (who  had  been  formerly  a  Quaker)  and  another  Child  of  a 
Churchman.  And  at  our  return  to  Neio-Castle  from  Virginia,  I  Baptized 
the  said  Mr.  James  Claypool,  he  was  much  afflicted  with  a  Palsie. 

April  18,  1 703.    I  Preached  at  York  Town,  by  York  River,  on  Acts  20,  21. 


38  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Avril  20  1703.  We  arrived  at  WUUamsburgh  in  Virginia,  (having 
comeby  Water  in  a  Sloop,  from  New-Castle  to  York  River,)  and  were  very 
kindly  received  there,  and  entertained  by  Col.  Nicholson,  then  Govemour  ot 

4^21 ,  Wednesday.  I  Preached  in  WUUamsburgh  Church,  before  the 
Convocation  of  the  Clergy  then  Assembled,  on  1  Job.  1.1. 

April  25,  Sunday.  I  Preached  at  James-Town  on  1  Job.  1.  3.  at  the 
request  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Blair  Minister  there,  and  Commissary,  who  very 
kindly  and  Hospitally  Entertained  us  at  his  House. 

J/ay  2,  Sunday,  1703.     I  Preached  at  Kicketan  Church  by  James  River, 

on  2  Cor.  3.  18.  '  .  .       _  „    , 

May  4  Tuesday.  I  Preached  there  the  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  on  FsaL 
18   48  49  the  Minister,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Wallis,  being  then  in  England. 

May  9,  Sunday.  I  Preached  at  a  Chappel  in  Elizabeth  County  m  Vir- 
ginia, on  Psal.  1.  1.  2,  3. 

Jfaw  10      We  took  our  Journey  from  thence  to  North- Carolina. 
May  16,  Whitsunday,  1703.     I  Preached  at  the  House  of  Capt.  Sanders 
in  Corretuk  in  North- Carolina,  on  Rom.  1.  16.  _ 

We  desio-ned  to  have  Travelled  further  into  North- Carolina,  but  there  was 
no  Passage  from  that  Place  by  Land  convenient  to  Travel,  by  reason  of 
Swamps,  and  Marishes  ;  and  we  had  no  way  to  go  by  Water  but  in  a  Canow 
over  a  great  Bay,  many  Miles  over  which  we  essayed  to  do,  but  the  Wind 
continuing  several  Days  contrary,  we  returned  to  Virginia. 

May  23  Sunday,  1703.  I  Preached  at  the  Church  in  Princess  Anns 
County  in  Virginia,  on  Heb.  12.  1.  and  I  Baptized  Eight  Children  there. 
Mr.  Talbot  Preached  the  same  Day  at  a  Chappel  belonging  to  the  same 
County,  and  Baptized  Ten  Children.  _ 

The  whole  County  is  but  one  Parish,  and  is  about  Fifty  Miles  in  length  ; 
the  People  are  well  affected,  but  they  had  no  Minister,  and  greatly  desire  to 
have  one;  and  as  they  informed  us,  the  Minister's  Salary  being  paid  in 
Tobacco,  (as  it  is  generally  all  over  Virginia  and  Maryland)  the  Tobacco  of 
that  County  was  so  low,  that  it  could  not  maintain  him. 

May  30,  Sunday,  1703.  The  Reverend  Mr.  Blair  Commissary,  Preached 
at  Kicketan,  where  I  was  an  Hearer,  having  no  occasion  that  Day  to  Preach 
any  where  in  that  County. 

June  6,  Sunday.  Mr.  Talbot  Preached  at  Kicketan,  we  stayed  there  about 
Ten  Days,  at  my  Daughters  House  at  Kicketan  by  Jamas  River ;  she  is 
fully  come  off  from  the  Quakers,  and  is  a  zealous  Member  of  the  Church  of 
England,  and  brings  up  her  Children  (so  many  of  them  as  are  capable  through 
Age,)  in  the  Christian  Religion,  Praised  be  God  for  it. 

June  13,  Sunday.  I  Preached  at  the  Church  of  Abington,  on  the  North- 
side  of  York-River,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Smith  is  Minister  there,  and  did  Read 
the  Church  Prayers.  My  Text  was,  1  Thess.  5.  19.  I  lodged  at  Major 
BurrelVs  House,  and  was  kindly  Entertained.  Mr.  Talbot  Preached  at 
TPz  llidTYi  s  h  ut  oh  • 
June  20,  Sunday.  IPreached  at  Hampton  Churchin  Virginia,  on  Jam.  1.  22. 
June  27,  Sunday.  Mr.  Talbot  Preached  at  York-Town  by  York-River, 
where  I  was  present  with  him  ;  we  were  kindly  Entertained  there  at  the 
Collector's  House  several  Days,  waiting  for  Passage  up  Maryland-bay. 


George  Keith's  Journal.  39 

June  28,  ]  703.  We  sailed  in  a  Sloop  from  York-Town,  up  Maryland-bay 
to  West-River ;  the  Master  of  the  Sloop  was  a  Quaker,  whose  Name  is 
Thomas  Sparrow.  After  our  Landing,  he  kindly  Entertained  us  at  his  House 
that  Night,  and  refused  to  take  any  thing  either  for  our  Passage  or  Enter- 
tainment at  his  House.  And  as  to  our  Provision  on  Board  the  Sloop,  the 
Governour  of  Virginia  sent  us  in  Plenty.  I  had  much  Discourse ' and 
Reasoning  with  the  said  Thomas  Sparrow,  both  aboard  the  Sloop,  and  at  his 
House,  especially  about  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  but  he  used  the 
same  evasions  to  the  Texts  of  Scripture  I  brought  for  them,  as  the  Quakers 
commonly  use. 

_  July  lj  1703.  We  came  to  Annapolis  in  Maryland,  where  we  were 
kindly  received  and  Entertained  by  Esquire  Finch,  then  President  of  Mary- 
land, and  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence  the  Secretary  there. 

July  4,  Sunday.  I  Preached  at  Annapolis,  on  1  Thess.  1.  5.  and  had  a 
large  Auditory  well  affected  ;  my  Sermon  at  the  request  of  a  worthy  Person 
who  heard  it,  was  Printed  at  Annapolis,  mostly  at  his  Charge ;  and  Copies 
of  it  sent  by  him,  to  many  parts  of  the  Country.  It  is  Bound  up  with  other 
Printed  Sermons  and  Tracts,  in  the  Book  abovementioned,  which  I  Presented 
to  the  Honourable  Society,  soon  after  my  arrival  into  England. 

July  7,  1703.  At  the  desire  of  some  Persons  of  best  Note  in  that  part  of 
Maryland,  I  went  to  the  Quakers  Meeting  at  Herring- Creejc  in  Maryland,  to 
have  some  friendly  Conference  with  them.  The  aforesaid  Esquire  ^mcA,'sir 
Thomas  Lawrence,  and  several  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  many  Persons  of 
goed  Note,  came  along  with  me  to  the  Quakers  Meeting  there,  and  also  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Hall  the  Minister  of  the  Parish,  and  diverse  other  Ministers  of 
the  neighbouring  Parishes.  While  the  Quakers  were  all  silent ;  after  some 
time,  I  stood  up  to  speak  among  them,  intending  a  brief  Discourse  on  Job.  7. 
38,  39.  I  had  spoke  but  a  very  few  Sentences,  when  they  interrupted  me 
very  rudely  ;  and  notwithstanding  the  kind  and  gentle  Entreaty  of  Esquire 
Finch  and  some  others  there  present  of  their  kind  Neighbours,  praying  them 
to  hear  me,  by  no  means  would  the  Quakers  suffer  me  to  proceed°in  my 
Discourse.  They  told  the  Auditory,  I  was  none  of  them,  and  they  had 
disowned  me.  I  asked  them  for  what  ?  But  they  would  give  no  Reason  for 
their  so  doing.  One  of  them  stood  up,  and  accused  Mr.  Hall  the  Minister  of 
the  Parish,  and  also  the  Sheriff,  of  Theft ;  And  being  inquired  what  the 
Theft  was,  whereof  he  accused   them.      He  answered,  that  the  Sheriff  had 

given  some  Tobacco  of  his,  to  the  said Hall,  which  was  none  of  his. 

The  Case  was  this.  The  Sheriff  having  a  quantity  of  Tobacco  belonging  to 
this  Quaker  in  his  Custody,  as  is  usual  in  that  Country.  The  Sheriff,  in 
Kindness  and  good  Neighbourhood  to  the  said  Quaker,  rather  than  to 
distrein  upon  him,  according  to  the  Law,  paid  to  Mr.  Hall  so  much  out  of 
the  Quakers  Tobacco,  as  was  due  to  Mr.  Hall  by  the  said  Quaker,  by  an  Act 
of  the  general  Assembly,  and  confirmed  by  the  Queen.  And  when  some 
present  said  to  him,  his  calling  it  Theft,  reflected  on  the  general  Assembly,  he 
still  persisted  in  it,  that  it  was  Theft,  I  did  again  offer  to  Speak,  but  they 
did  interrupt  me  again,  and  abused  me  with  reviling  Speeches  in  meer 
Generals,  as  the  manner  generally  of  the  Quakers  is,  to  all  who  Endeavour  to 
reform  them  from  their  Errors,  and  especially  to  any  who  with  a  good 
Conscience  upon  Divine  Conviction,  have  forsaken  their  Erroneous  ways,  to 


40  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

whom  they  are  most  outragious,  as  the  Jews  were  "to  St.  Paul,  after  his 
Conversion  to  Christianity.  The  aforesaid  Persons,  my  worthy  Friends,  who 
came  with  me  to  the  Quakers  Meeting,  finding  that  the  Quakers  would  give 
me  no  hearing  in  their  Meeting,  desired  me  to  Preach  to  them  my  Sermon 
which  I  had  begun  upon,  (but  was  interrupted  by  the  Quakers)  at  a  Chappel 
very  near  to  the  Quakers  Meeting,  where  they  would  gladly  hear  me  before 
they  went  away,  on  that  Subject,  to  which  I  readily  agreed.  Mr.  Hall  the 
Minister  of  the  Parish  did  begin  with  the  Church  Prayers,  and  after  the 
Prayers,  I  Preached  my  Sermon  to  them,  in  the  said  Chappel,  (where  was  a 
great  Auditory  of  both  Men  and  Women)  the  same  in  Matter,  as  near  as  I 
could,  which  I  had  designed  to  deliver  in  the  Quakers  Meeting  ;  for  I  made 
no  use  of  Notes  at  that  time,  knowing  that  if  I  had  used  Notes,  the  Quakers 
would  have  made  the  greater  exceptions,  and  have  said,  I  was  only  a  Minister 
of  the  Letter,  as  their  manner  is  to  object  against  them,  who  make  use  of 
Notes ;  and  I  doubted  not  but  that  God  would  assist  me,  to  deliver  what  was 
proper  and  Edifying,  though  I  had  no  Notes  at  that  Time.  Though  I  oft 
made  use  of  Notes  in  my  Sermons  which  I  Preached,  and  continue  to  do,  and 
I  do  well  approve  of  it. 

The  Matter  which  I  mainly  insisted  upon,  in  my  Discourse  on  that  iext, 
Job.  1.  38,  39.  was,  that  though  we  had  no  Warrant  from  this,  or  any  other 
place  of  Holy  Scripture,  to  expect  those  Miraculous  and  extraordinary  Inspi- 
rations of  the  Spirit  given  to  the  Apostles,  which  enabled  them  to  Preach 
without  Study,  and  to  Speak  with  Tongues  they  had  not  learned  by  Industry, 
yet  we  had  sufficient  ground  from  many  Texts  of  Holy  Scripture,  to  believe, 
that  God  continues  to  give  to  all  the  Faithful,  such  plentiful  Inspirations, 
Influences,  and  Assistances  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  as  are  necessary  to  their 
Sanctification,  and  to  their  continual  Growth  and  Progress  therein,  and  to 
enable  them  to  serve  him  acceptably,  and  comfortably,  in  all  Duties  of 
Holiness  and  Righteousness,  and  especially  to  assist  them  in  their  Prayers  and 
Thanksgivings  to  Almighty  God,  in  the  due  Use  of  the  Means  of  Grace ;  and 
to  assist  the  Ministers  of  his  Word,  in  their  Preaching  and  Praying,  and  in 
all  other  Parts  of  their  Ministerial  Calling. 

And  I  shewed,  that  the  Ministers  and  People  of  the  Church  of  England, 
had  a  better  Belief,  Trust,  and  Hope  of  the  inward  Assistances  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  than  the  Quakers  had,  notwithstanding  the  Quakers  proud  and 
presumptuous  Affirmations  and  Pretensions  to  the  Spirit  above  others.  For 
(said  I)  the  Quakers,  and  the  Quaker  Preachers,  have  such  a  Distrust  of  the 
Spirit's  Assistance  to  pray,  or  give  Thanks  vocally,  that  they  think,  or  pretend 
they  oft  have  it  not :  and  for  that  Reason  given  by  them,  they  oft  neither 
pray  in  their  Families,  nor  at  their  Meals.  And  for  want  of  the  Spirits 
Motion  and  Assistance,  as  they  pretend  and  profess,  so  as  to  enable  them, 
either  to  Preach  or  Pray  in  audible  Words,  they  used  to  have  many  silent 
Meetings,  where  one  Word  is  not  uttered  among  them  from  first  to  last;  and 
in  many  Places  they  have  them  still.  And  it  is  certain,  that  generally  in  the 
Quakers  Families,  there  is  no  vocal  Prayer  used  at  all,  and  rarely,  even  in 
their  Preachers  Families.  But  none  of  them  use  constant  Prayer  in  their 
Families,  either  twice  or  once  a  Day,  that  ever  I  heard  of,  and  some  not  once 
in  a  Year,  in  the  Family,  whatever  they  do  in  their  Publick  Meetings  for 
Ostentation.     The  Reason  of  this  Omission,  which  they  think  not  to  be  any 


George  Keith's  Journal.  41 

Sin,  is,  that  the  Spirit  doth  not  move  or  assist  them.  But  what  Spirit  is 
that,  but  a  Spirit  of  Ostentation  and  Vain-Glory,  that  moves  them  so  fre- 
quently to  pray  in  their  Publick  Meetings,  and  so  rarely,  not  once  in  a  Year, 
in  their  Families  ?  Now  whence  doth  this  proceed,  that  they  pray  so  seldom 
in  their  Families  and  in  some  of  their  Meetings,  but  either  from  their  great 
Distrust,  (as  is  said)  or  from  a  political  Contrivance  of  their  first  Authors,  the 
more  to  make  their  Proselytes  believe,  they  waited  for  some  extraordinary 
Inspiration  and  Impulse:  For  they  had  wont  to  say,  That  they  who  could 
pray  or  preach  at  set  Times,  have  not  the  true  Gift  of  Prayer  or  Preaching. 
And  yet  it  is  sufficiently  known,  that  many  of  them  are  arrived  at  that 
Confidence,  to  preach  and  pray  in  their  way  of  Rhapsody,  at  any  time,  in  their 
Meetings  ;  and  they  have  their  ordinary  Set-times,  especially  at  London, 
when  to  begin  and  when  to  end ;  so  that  if  any  of  their  Preachers  happen  to 
transgress  the  ordinary  time,  they  oft  get  some  Reprimand.  Such  of  them 
who  had  not  arrived  at  this  Confidence  and  Conceit  of  their  Ability,  to  preach 
or  pray  at  any  time,  except  when  the  Spirit  moves  them,  I  compared  them  to 
a  Mill  that  stands  by  a  small  Brook,  or  Run  of  Water,  that  has  oft  so  little 
Water  as  cannot  make  the  Wheels  of  the  Mill  to  go,  till  there  come  afresh, 
they  know  not  when. 

Whereas  the  Faithful  of  the  Church  of  England,  both  Ministers  and 
People,  and  in  all  true  Christian  Churches,  have  no  such  Distrust  of  the 
Assistance  of  the  blessed  Spirit  of  God,  but  believe  that  blessed  Spirit  will 
never  be  wanting  to  them,1  to  give  them  his  Assistance  in  some  Measure  and 
Degree,  more  or  less,  according  to  his  good  Pleasure ;  sufficient  to  enable 
them  to  perform  all  requisite  Duties  unto  God  acceptably. 

Another  thing  I  insisted  upon  from  the  Words  of  the  Text,  was,  That  these 
inward  Aids  and  Assistances  of  the  Holy  Spirit  given  to  the  Faithful,  were 
only  promised  to  them  who  believed  sincerely  in  Jesus  Christ,  both  God  and 
Man,  who  is  now  in  Heaven  without  us,  our  blessed  Mediator  and  Intercessor 
with  the  Father ;  and  who  believe  that  he  is  to  come  in  his  Glorified  Body, 
the  same  in  Substance  he  had  on  Earth,  (in  which  he  suffered  Death  for  our 
Sins)  to  be  the  Judge  both  of  the  Quick  and  Dead,  at  his  Coming  and 
Appearing  visibly  without  us,  as  really  as  he  visibly  ascended  into  Heaven,  in 
the  Sight  of  his  Disciples.  And  that  therefore  the  Quakers  who  generally 
have  not  this  Belief  in  Jesus  Christ,  as  above  declared,  (as  hath  been  fully 
and  evidently  proved,  and  can  still  be  proved  out  of  the  printed  Books  of  their 
noted  Authors.)  But  instead  of  the  true  Christian  Faith  in  Jesus  Christ 
(according  as  the  Holy  Scripture  hath  set  him  forth)  have  set  up  a  Belief 
only  in  the  Light  within  them,  as  the  said  Light  is  in  all  Men.  These,  I  say, 
can  lay  no  Claim  to  any  such  Assistances  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  are  only 
promised  to  sincere  Believers  in  Jesus  Christ,  according  to  the  Words  of  the 
Text,  Job.  7.  38,  39.  He  that  believes  in  me,  out  of  his  Belly  shall  flow 
Rivers  of  living  Water.  But  this  spake  he  of  the  Spirit,  which  they  that 
believe  on  him  should  receive,  (to  wit,  that  very  Man  which  they  both  saw 
with  their  outward  Eyes,  and  heard  with  their  outward  Ears)  who,  as  he  was 
visible  as  Man,  yet  was  invisible  as  he  was  God  :  And  that  it  is  said  in  the 
following  Words,  The  Holy  Ghost  was  not  yet  given,  because  that  Jesus  was 
not  yet  glorified :  that  is,  He  was  not  given,  until  after  His  Ascension,  either 
in  that  Plenty  and  Variety  of  miraculous  Gifts,  or  in  that  Plenty  and  large 


42  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Measure  of  the  ordinary  Gifts  and  Graces  of  the  Spirit,  as  were  afterwards  to 
be  given  to  the  Faithful  after  his  Ascension. 

July  10,  Saturday.  I  preached  at  Herring-Creek  Church,  at  the  Request 
of  Mr.  Hall  the  Minister,  on  the  two  Sacraments,  my  Text  was,  1  Cor. 
12,  13. 

July  11,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Mr.  Colbactfs  Church  in  the  next  Parish 
a  second  Sermon  on  Job.  7.  38,  39. 

July  14.  I  crossed  Maryland-Bay  over  to  the  Eastern  Shore,  accom- 
panied with  Mr.  Hall  abovementioned,  from  Annapolis  to  Kent-Island :  We 
had  a  fair  and  easie  Passage,  in  the  Space  of  three  Hours.  Mr.  Talbot  had 
gone  up  the  Western  Shore  to  preach  at  several  Places  on  that  side,  and  after 
some  time  to  come  to  me. 

July  15.  We  travelled  from  Kent-Island  to  the  House  of  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Lilingstone,  where  we  were  kindly  entertained  some  Days. 

July  18,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Mr.  Lilingston's  Church  in  Talbot  County, 
on  Eph.  2.  10,  and  had  a  great  Auditory,  and  well  affected. 

July  21,  Wednesday.  I  preached  at  Mr.  Bourdly's  Church,  on  Rom. 
1 0.  7,  8,  9.  and  had  a  great  Auditory,  and  were  kindly  entertained  at  his 
House. 

July  25,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  the  Church  of  Shrewsbury  in  Maryland, 
on  1  Cor.  3.  11,  12.  where  was  a  large  Auditory  out  of  diverse  Parishes: 
But  that  Parish  of  Shrewsbury  had  no  Minister,  nor  have  had  for  some 
considerable  Time  past.  We  were  kindly  entertained  by  Mr.  Blays  at  his 
House  in  that  Parish,  some  Days.  On  Sunday  in  the  Evening,  I  had  some 
Discourse  with  a  Quaker  who  came  from  London  and  sold  Goods  to  the 
Planters,  for  Tobabco.  I  found  him  so  extream  ignorant,  that  I  could  not 
perswade  him,  that  our  Blessed  Saviour,  as  he  was  Man,  had  a  created  Soul. 
I  asked  him,  If  he  himself  had  a  created  Soul  ?  This  also  he  denied.  _  I 
mentioned  that  place  of  Scripture  to  him,  The  Soul  that  Sinneth  shall  die : 
And  could  a  Soul  sin,  that  was  not  created  ?  If  the  Soul  of  Man  be  not 
created,  it  must  be  God,  and  God  could  not  Sin.  But  no  Reasons  can  - 
prevail  with  them,  however  so  plain,  who  are  given  up  to  strong  Delusion,  as 
indeed  they  too  generally  are.  This  Discourse  I  had  with  him  in  the  Hear- 
ing of  another  Quaker,  who  came  with  him,  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Blay,  who 
was  present. 

July  28.  I  crossed  Sasafrax-River,  (Mr.  Hall  having  gone  home)  and 
came  that  Day  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Sewils,  Minister  of  Cecil- County  in 
Maryland,  where  Mr.  Talbot  came  to  me.  Mr.  Sewil  kindly  entertained  us 
at  his  House,  and  accompanied  us  to  the  Mannor,  by  Bohemia  River,  where 
we  lodged,  and  were  kindly  entertained  by  the  Master  of  the  House,  who 
was  a  German. 

July  29.  We  came  from  thence  to  New-Castle,  by  Delaware-River,  and 
were  kindly  entertained  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Robert  French,  some  Days. 

August  1,  1703,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  New- Castle,  on  Heb.  5.  9.  and 
had  a  large  Auditory  of  English,  and  some  Dutch  :  They  have  had  a  Church 
lately  built,  and  the  Reverend  Mr.  Rosse,  a  Missionary  from  the  Honourable 
Society,  has  been  sent  to  them,  which  they  greatly  desired. 

August  2.  I  came  to  Upland,  alias  Chester,  by  Delaware-River,  Mr. 
Talbot  having  gone  before  to  preach  there,  August  1. 


George  Keith's  Journal.  43 

August  3,  Tuesday.  I  preached  in  the  Church  at  Chester,  a  second 
Sermon  on  Titus  2.  1],  12,  13,  14.  and  had  a  considerable  Auditory:  we 
were  kindly  entertained  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Jasper  Teates  there. 

^  August  4.  We  came  from  Chester  to  Philadelphia,  where  we  were 
kindly  received  and  entertained  by  our  Friends,  and  especially  by  Mistress 
Welch,  at  whose  House  we  again  lodged  as  formerly. 

August  8.  Mr.  Talbot  preached  in  the  Forenoon  at  Philadelphia,  and  I 
preached  there  in  the  Afternoon,  on  2  Cor.  12.  9. 

August  15,  Sunday.     I  Preached  at  Philadelphia  on  1  Job.  5.  3. 

August  22,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  the  New  Church  at  Burlington,  on  2 
Sa?n.  23.  3,  4.  My  Lord  Cornbury  was  present  and  many  Gentlemen  who 
accompanied  him,  both  from  New-York,  and  the  two  Jerseys,  having  had 
his  Commission  to  be  Governour  of  West  and  East-Jersey,  Read  at  the 
Town-House  there,  some  Days  before.  It  was  the  first  Sermon  that  was 
Preached  in  that  Church. 

August  29,  Sunday.  I  preached  again  at  the  Church  in  Burlington,  on 
Jam.  1.  22. 

Sept.  5,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia,  on  Acts  2.  41,  42.  being 
Sacrament  Day. 

Sept.  12,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  the  Church  in  Burlington,  a  Second 
Sermon,  on  Jam.  1.  22.  Mr.  Talbot  preached  that  Day  at  Chester  in 
Pensilvania. 

Sept.  15.     I  preached  at  Will.  Hewlins  in  West-Jersey,  on  Tit.  2.  11. 

Sept.  19,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia  in  the  Afternoon,  on 
Mat.  16.  6. 

Sept.  21,  Tuesday.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia,  on  Jude  3.  This  week 
being  the  time  of  the  Quakers  yearly  Meeting  at  Philadelphia,  the  Minister 
of  Philadelphia,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Evans,  with  the  consent  of  the  Vestry, 
having  agreed  together  with  us,  to  have  both  Prayers  and  Sermons  at  the 
Church  in  Philadelphia,  all  the  Days  that  the  Quakers  had  their  Meetings  in 
that  Week,  which  use  to  continue  three  Days  ;  there  happens  commonly  in 
that  Week  to  be  a  great  concourse  of  People  at  Philadelphia,  not  only 
Quakers,  but  also  of  many  others,  as  at  some  great  Fair. 

Sept.  21,  Tuesday.  Mr.  Talbot  went  to  the  Quakers  Meeting  at  Phila- 
delphia, that  met  at  the  New  Meeting-House,  called,  the  Banck- Meeting, 
about  9  of  the  Clock  in  the  Forenoon,  and  began  to  read  a  Paper  to  them 
which  I  had  Writ,  containing  some  Observations  on  the  Attestation,  taken 
and  Signed  by  some  of  the  most  noted  Quakers  in  West-Jersey,  in  order  to 
their  being  made  Members  of  the  Council  in  the  Province  of  West  and  East- 
Jersey.  The  Quakers  were  so  rude,  that  they  pushed  him  on  the  Breast,  and 
drove  him  by  violence  from  the  threshold  of  the  Door,  where  he  stood;  yet 
he  continued  Reading,  till  he  had  finished  it ;  but  by  the  Tumult  that  the 
Quakers  raised  he  was  little  heard.  After  which,  I  went  in  to  their  Meeting- 
House,  and  stood  up  on  a  Bench  to  Read  it  in  their  hearing  within  doors,  but 
I  had  scarce  read  three  Lines,  till  a  Quaker,  whose  Name  I  spare,  pulled  it 
out  of  my  Hand  with  great  violence,  and  some  of  them  overturned  the  Bench 
I  stood  upon,  but  I  had  no  hurt,  Praised  be  God  ;  for  as  I  was  falling,  some 
that  were  not  Quakers  supported  me  with  their  shoulders  till  my  Feet  gently 
touched  the  Ground  ;  another  Person  that  was  no  Quaker,  pulling  the  said 


44  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical   Collections. 

Paper  out  of  the  Quakers  hand,  it  was  torn  in  two  pieces  betwixt  them  ;  but 
by  the  order  of  a  Justice  of  Peace,  who  was  no  Quaker,  the  Quaker  returned 
to  me  that  torn  piece  of  the  Paper  which  he  had  kept.  Of  this  Rude  and 
Disorderly  Carriage  of  the  Quakers  at  the  said  Place,  the  said  Day,  diverse 
Persons  of  good  Credit  gave  an  Affidavit  before  a  Justice  of  Peace  at  Phila- 
delphia. I  need  not  here  recite  the  Contents  of  my  Observations  on  these 
Quakers  Attestation,  for  the  like  Observations  have  been  made  by  another 
hand,  and  published  in  Print  lately,  in  these  American  parts,  and  perhaps 
may  be  Reprinted  at  London  ere  long. 

Sept.  26,  Sunday.  I  preached  in  ^Burlington  Church,  a  third  Sermon,  on 
Jam.  1.  22.  in  the  Forenoon,  and  Mr.  Talbot  in  the  Afternoon. 

October  3,  Sunday.  I  preached  in  Burlington  Church,  on  Heb.  8.  10,  11, 
12.  both  Forenoon,  and  Afternoon,  and  read  the  Prayers  before  Sermon. 

October  10,  Sunday,  1703.  I  preached  at  Toponemes  in  Freehold  in 
East-Jersey,  on  Acts  2.  41,  42.  and  had  a  considerable  Auditory,  diverse  of 
them  late  Converts  from  Quakerism  to  the  Church.  Mr.  Innesse  above- 
mentioned  did  read  the  Prayers.  Mr.  Talbot  staid  to  preach  in  several 
places  in  Pensilvania,  and  West- Jersey,  for  some  time. 

October  17,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Shrewsbury  near  the  Quakers 
Meeting  there,  on  Psal.  103.  17,  18. 

October  24,  Sunday.  I  preached  again  there,  on  Heb.  8.  10,  11.  And 
Mr.  Innesse  Baptized  two  Men  ana  a  Child. 

October  31,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Amboy  in  East-Jersey,  on  Titus  2. 11, 
12,  13,  14. 

November  3.  I  preached  at  And.  Craig's  in  the  Township  of  Elizabeth 
Town,  on  2  Pet.  1.  5.  and  Baptized  his  Four  Children. 

November  4.  I  Baptized  the  Children  of  Andrew  Hemton,  eight  in 
Number ;  He  and  his  Wife  are  come  over  from  Quakerism  to  the  Church. 
And  November  3,  I  Baptized  Seven  Children  of  a  Widow  Woman  there. 

November  7,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Netv-York,  on  Acts  2.  42.  and  that 
Sermon  was  soon  after  Printed  at  New-York,  at  the  desire  of  some  who 
heard  it,  and  did  contribute  to  the  Charge  of  its  Printing. 

November  14,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Jamaica  on  Long-Island,  on  Heb. 
8.  9,  10. 

November  17,  Wednesday.  I  preached  at  Oysterbay  on  Long-Island,  on 
Jude  20,  21.  And  Novem'b.  19.  there  I  Baptized  Mrs.  White,  Wife  to  Mr. 
Edward  White,  and  all  his  Children,  viz.  three  Sons  and  five  Daughters. 
He  and  his  Wife  were  formerly  Quakers,  but  are  come  over  to  the  Church. 
And  the  same  Day  I  Baptized  Mrs.  Jones,  Wife  to  Captain  Jones  of  that 
Township. 

November  20,  Saturday.  At  Oysterbay,  I  Baptized  John  Townsend,  a 
Justice  of  Peace,  and  his  three  Children.  And  Mr.  Nathaniel  Cole,  and  his 
Wife,  and  his  three  Children.  There  had  scarce  been  any  Profession  of  the 
Christian  Religion  among  the  People  of  that  Town ;  they  had  scarce  any 
Notion  of  Religion  but  Quakerism :  The  Quakers  had  formerly  a  Meeting 
there,  but  many  of  them  who  lived  in  that  Town,  became  Followers  of  Thomas 
Chase  (not  the  Thomas  Chase  of  Ha?nj)ton  in  New-England  abovementioned) 
and  were  called,  Chase's  Crew,  who  set  up  a  new  sort  of  Quakerism,  and 
among  other  Vile  Principles,  they  condemned  Marriage,  and  said,  it  was  of 


George  Keith? s  Journal.  45 

the  Devil,  perverting  that  Text  of  Scripture,  The  Children  of  the  Resurrection 
neither  Marry,  nor  are  given  in  Marriage  ;  and  they  said  they  were  the 
Children  of  the  Resurrection  ;  and  indeed,  as  the  Author  of  the  Snake  in  the 
Grass  has  well  observed  ;  This  Mad  sort  of  Quakers,  called  Chase's  Crew,  did 
but  consequentially  practice,  what  the  followers  of  George  Fox  held  very 
generally  in  Principle,  viz.  that  they  were  come  already  to  the  Resurrection, 
and  had  their  vile  Bodies  already  changed  ;  so  George  Fox  has  expressly 
Taught  in  Print,  in  a  Printed  Treatise  of  his  about  the  Supper,  where  he  will 
have  the  Lord's  Supper  now  to  be  only  inward. 

November  21,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Ilampsted  Church  on  Long-Island, 
on  1  Pet.  2.  9.  and  Lodged  that  Night  at  Isaac  Smith's  House,  Four  Miles 
distant  from  the  Church,  and  there  I  Baptized  a  Young- Woman  of  his 
Family,  and  a  Boy,  and  a  Girl  of  his  Relations,  and  a  Neighbours  Child,  a 
Boy.  This  Isaac  Smith  had  been  formerly  a  Quaker,  and  was  scarce  then 
fully  come  off,  but  came  and  heard  me  Preach,  and  was  well  affected,  and  did 
kindly  Entertain  me. 

November  28,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  New-York  on  1  Cor.  12.  13.  and 
that  Sermon  also  was  Printed  at  New-York,  at  the  desire  of  some  who  heard 
it,  and  contributed  to  the  Charge  of  Printing  it ;  and  by  the  Blessing  of  God, 
both  these  printed  Sermons  have  been  serviceable  to  many  in  these  American 
Parts,  and  to  some  also  in  England,  to  reclaim  them  from  their  erroneous 
Opinions  about  the  two  Sacraments,  Baptism  and  the  Lord's-Supper. 

December  5,  Sunday,  1703.  I  preached  at  New-York,  on  John  12 
35,  36. 

December  12,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Amboy,  at  my  Lord  Cornbury's 
Lodging,  where  he  was  present,  and  many  with  him.  My  Text  was  John 
12.  35,  36. 

December  19,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  the  House  of  Col.  Tounfly  in 
Elizabeth-Town,  both  Forenoon  and  Afternoon,  on  1  Pet.  2.  9.  Many  of 
that  Town  having  been  formerly  a  sort  of  Independents,  are  become  well 
affected  to  the  Church  of  England,  and  desire  to  have  a  Minister  of  the 
Church  of  England  sent  to  them:  There  I  baptized  a  Child  of  Mr. 
Shakmaple. 

December  25,  Christmas-day.  I  preached  at  Amboy  in  East-Jersey  on 
1  Tim.  3.  16.  *' 

December  26,  Sunday.  Mr.  Talbot  preached  there  on  Peal.  125  and 
baptized  a  Young  Man,  called  John  Brown,  who  had  a  Quaker  Education, 
and  a  1  oung  Woman. 

December  21  1703.  I  preached  at  Capt.  Bishops  by  Ravai-Biver  in 
East-Jersey,  on  Jude  20.  and  baptized  a  Child  of  Robert  Wright 

December  29  Wednesday.  I  preached  at  the  Independents  Meeting- 
House  in  Woodbndge,  at  the  Desire  of  Mr.  Shepherd,  and  some  others  there, 
on  1  lim.  3.  16.  After  Sermon  Mr.  Shepherd  kindly  entertained  us  at  his 
House. 

December  30,  Thursday.  I  preached  at  Piscataway  in  East-Jersey,  on 
Rom.  10.  6,  7,  8,  9.  y' 

January  2,  Sunday.     I  preached  at  Amboy  on  Heb.  8.  10,  11. 
_  January  9,  Sunday.     I  preached  at  the  House  of  Dr.  Johnston  on  Nether- 
sinks,  on  Psal.  119.  V.  113.  and  had  a  considerable  Auditory. 


46  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

January  16,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Mr.  Morris  House  at  the  Falls  of 
Shrewsbury  in  East-Jersey,  on  2  Cor.  5.  17. 

January  23,  Sunday.    I  preached  again  at  Mr.  Morris  House  on  2  Pet.  1.  5. 
January  30,  Sunday.     I  preached  at  the  House  of  Mr.  Thomas  Boels  m 
Freehold  in  East- Jersey,  on  1  Cor.  3  5.  58. 

February  6,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  the  House  of  Mr.  John  Read  m 
Freehold  in  East-Jersey,  on  PsaZ.  119.  96. 

February  \3,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Burlington  Church  in  West-Jersey, 
on  1  Cor.  15.  58.. 

February  20,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia  both  Forenoon  and 
Afternoon,  on  P sal.  119.  96,  97. 

February  27,  Sunday,  1704.  I  preached  at  Trinity -Chappel  at  Franck- 
fort  (alias  Oc/brd)  in  Pensilvania,  on  1  Jbfoi  2.  24.  As  I  returned  from 
Franckfort  to  Philadelphia,  that  very  Day,  about  the  4th  Hour  in  the  After- 
noon, being  Sunday,  both  I  and  those  in  company  with  me,  observed  that  a, 
Corn-Mill  belonging  to  some  Quakers  was  Grinding,  which  they  told  me,  is 
very  common  there. 

March  5,  Sunday,  1704.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia,  on  Luke  2.  29,  30, 
31,  32,  in  the  Afternoon. 

March  12,  Sunday.     I  preached  at  Philadelphia  on  1  Tim.  2.  1,  2. 
March  16,  Thursday.     I  preached  at   Trinity- Chappel  at  Franckfort,  on 
1  Tim.  2.  1,  2. 

March  19,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia  a  second  Sermon  on 
1  Tim.  2.  2,  3,  4. 

March  26,  Sunday,  1704.  I  preached  both  Forenoon  and  Afternoon,  at 
Burlington  Church,  on  1  Cor.  15.  58.  two  other  Sermons,  being  my  last  I 
preached  there. 

April  2,  Sunday,  1704.  I  preached  at  Philadelphia  on  John  4.  24.  being 
my  last  Sermon  I  preached  there. 

After  my  Return  from  East-Jersey  to  Philadelphia,  about  the  middle  of 
February  1703.  for  the  Space  of  Six  Weeks,  I  remained  mostly  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  was  very  kindly  and  hospitally  entertained  by  Mr.  Joshua  Carpen- 
ter, at  his  House,  where  I  lodged  all  that  time,  until  I  began  my  Journey 
from  Philadelphia  towards  Virginia,  to  take  Passage  for  my  Return  to 
England.  Mrs.  Welch,  with  whom  I  lodged  formerly,  having  been  Sick  and 
Weak  all  that  time  ;  but  some  time  after  it  pleased  God  to  restore  her  to 
Health, 

During  the  most  part  of  Winter,  in  the  Year  1703.  Mr.  Talbot,  by  my  free 
Consent,°did  travel  in  diverse  other  Parts  in  Pensilvania,  West  and  East- 
Jersey,  Preaching  and  Baptizing  many  in  those  Parts  where  I  was  not  with 
him.  For  the  greater  Service  of  God  and  his  Church,  we  did  oft  travel 
separately,  (being  still  one  in  Heart  and  Affection)  and  I  had  very  good 
Friends  that  travelled  with  me  in  his  Absence,  to  accompany  me  from  place 
to  place,  in  all  those  places  where  I  travelled. 

April  9,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Chester  Church  in  Pensilvania,  on  John 
4.  24.  being  my  last  Sermon  there. 

April  12,  Wednesday.     I  preached  at  Newcastle,  on  Jude  20. 
April  16,  Easter-Sunday.     Mr.  Talbot  preached  at  Mr.  Bourdhfs  Church 
in  Maryland,  where  I  had  preached  before  July  21,  1703. 


George  Keitlis  Journal.  47 

April  23,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Annapolis  in  Maryland,  Col.  Seamour 
Governour  of  Maryland,  being  present,  who  very  kindly  entertained  us  at  his 
House  both  then  and  at  other  times,  during  our  Abode  there,  as  we  waited 
for  Passage  clown  Maryland-Bay  to  James-River  in  Virginia. 

Mr.  Talbot  accompanied  me  from  Philadelphia  to  Annapolis  in  Maryland, 
where  with  true  Love  and  Affection,  we  did  take  our  Farewell  of  one  another, 
and  he  returned  to  serve  God  and  his  Church,  as  formerly,  especially  in 
Pensilvania,  West  and  East-Jersey,  where  he  was  like  to  have  the  greatest 
Service  and  Success :  And  some  time  ago,  the  Right  Reverend  Henry,  Lord 
Bishop  of  London,  has  writ  to  him  to  fix  at  Burlington,  to  be  Minister  'of  the 
Church  there,  where  is  now  a  large  Congregation  ;  and  where,  not  lom>-  a"-o, 
there  was  little  else  but  Quakerism  or  Heathenism. 

April  26,  1704.  I  sailed  down  Maryland-Bay  to  Virginia,  in  Captain 
Pulman's  Ship,  who  very  kindly  entertained  me  and  Mr.  John  Barclay,  my 
good  Friend  with  me :  He,  in  true  Love  and  Affection,  travelled  with  me 
from  his  dwelling  House  at  Amboy  in  East-Jersey,  to  James-River  in 
Virginia,  and  he  staid  with  me  until  he  saw  me  aboard  the  Ship,  June  8. 
where  we  took  our  Farewell. 

May  2,  1704.  We  arrived  at  Kicketan  by  James-River,  and  staid  some 
Days  at  the  House  of  my  Son  in  Law  there. 

May  7,  Sunday.  I  preached  at  Williamsburgh  Church  in  Virginia,  on 
1  Tim.  2.  3,  4.  Col.  Nicnlson,  then  Governour  of  Virginia,  being  present, 
who  kindly  entertained  us. 

May  14,  Sunday.  I  heard  Mr.  Grace  preach  in  Kicketan  Church,  on 
Luke  23.  43. 

May  21,  Sunday,  1704.     I  preached  at  Kicketan  on  Acts  20.  21. 
May  28,  Sunday.     I  preached  in  the  Queen's  Ship,  called,  Bread-Nought, 
Capt.  Evans  Commodore  to  the  Virginia  Fleet  bound  for  England. 

June  4,  Whitsunday.  I  preached  again  in  the  Commodore-Ship,  on 
Job.  16.  7.  l 

June  8.  I  came  aboard  the  Commodore,  and  was  kindly  and  generously 
entertained  by  Capt.  Evans  at  his  Table,  all  the  Voyage,  gratis,  and  I  lodged 
(near  to  him)  in  the  great  Cabin. 

August  6,  1704.  We  arrived  safe  at  the  Downs,  praised  be  God  our 
Preserver. 

August  6.  Having  taken  my  Leave  of  Captain  Evans  at  the  Downs,  I 
came  aboard  a  Merchant-Ship,  whose  Commander  was  Captain  James  Thomas, 
and  sailed  in  his  Ship  until  we  arrived  into  the  Thames,  about  ten  miles  from 
London,  being  kindly  entertained  by  him  :  And  that  Evening,  being  the  14th 
of  August,  I  came  to  my  Family  in  London,  safe  and  well,  notwithstanding 
of  the  false  Prophecy  of  some  of  the  Quakers,  That  L  should  never  see  England 
any  more,  after  my  Departure  out  of  it,  in  April,  1 702.  The  abovementioned 
Captain  James  Thomas,  my  good  Friend,  some  Years  ago  came  off  from 
Quakerism  (wherein  he  was  educated)  and  his  Wife  also,  a°nd  are  come  over 
to  the  Church.  He  was  baptized  above  three  Years  ago,  by  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Stubs,  in  St.  Alphage  Church  by  Zion- College,  whereof  he  is  Minister; 
to  whose  Baptism  I  was  one  of  the  Witnesses. 

Thus  I  have  given  an  entire  Journal  of  my  two  Years  Missionary  Travel 
and  Service,  on  the  Continent  of  North-America,  betwixt  Piscataway-River 


48  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical   Collections. 

in  New-England,. and  Coretuck  in  North  Carolina ;  of  extent  in  Length 
about  Eight  hundred  Miles  ;  within  which  Bounds  are  Ten  distinct  Colonies 
and  Governments,  all  under  the  Crown  of  England,™.  Piscataway,  Boston, 
Rhod-Island,  Connecticut,  New-York,  East  and  West-Jersey,  Penszlvama, 
Maryland,  Virginia,  and  North- Carolina.  p 

I  travelled  twice  over  most  of  those  Governments  and  Colonies  and  I 
preached  oft  in  many  of  them,  particularly  in  Pensilvania,  West  and  East- 
Jersey  and  New-York  Provinces,  where  we  continued  longest,  and  found  the 

^^^^^^  and  my  Fellow-Labourer  Mr.  John  Talons 
Ministry,  in  the  Places  where  we  travelled  I  shall  not  say  much ;  yet  it  is 
necessary  that  something  be  said,  to  the  Glory  of  God  alone  to  whorc it 
belongs,  and  to  the  Encouragement  of  others,  who  may  hereafter  be  imployed 

"in'afuie6  place's  where  we  travelled  and  preached  we  found  the  People 
generally  well  affected  to  the  Doctrine  that  we  preached  among  them  and 
they  did  generally  join  with  us  decently  in  the  Liturgy  and  Pubhck  Pra  s 
and  Administration  of  the  Holy  Sacraments,  after  the  Usage  of  the  Chuich 
of  England,  as  we  had  Occasion  to  use  them. 

And  where  Ministers  were  wanting,  (as  there  were  wanting  in  many 
Places)  the  People  earnestly  desired  us  to  present  their  Request  to  the 
Honourable  Society,  to  send  Ministers  unto  them,  which  accordingly  I  have 
foneTand  in  answer  to  their  Request,  the  Society  has  sent  to  such  Places  as 
seemed  most  to  want,  a  considerable  Number  of  Missionaries. 

Beside  the  general  Success  we  had,  praised  be  God  for  it)  both  in  our 
Prfachhi.,  and  much  and  frequent  Conference  with  People  of  diverse  Perswa- 
Sonl  many  of  which  had  been  wholly  Strange*  to  the  Way  of  the  Church 
of England;  who,  after  they  had  observed  it  in  the  Public  payers  and 
reading  the  Lessons  out  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
men  °and  the  Manner  of  the  Administration  of  Baptism  and  he  Lord 
Supper,  were  greatly  affected  with  it,  and  some  of  which  declared  their  great 
Satisfaction  and  theVeem  they  had  of  the  Solemn  and  edifying  manner  of 
our  Worship  and  Administration,  far  above  whatever  they  could  obseive  m 
other  Ways  of  Worship  known  to  them. 

To  many,  our  Ministry  was  as  the  sowing  the  Seed  and  Planting  who, 
probably,  never  so  much  as  heard  one  orthodox  Sermon  preached  to  them 
Ee  we  came  and  preached  among  them  who  received  the  Word  with 
Joy  and  of  whom  we  have  good  Hope,  that  they  will  be  as  the  good 
Ground  That  bringeth  forth  Fruit,  some  Thirty,  some  Sixty,andsomean 
HZdred  Fold.  U  to  many  others  it  was  a  Watering  to  what  had  been 
formerly  Sown  and  Planted  among  them ;  some  of  the  good  Fimt  whereot 
wdd  observe,  to  the  Glory  of  God,  and  our  great  Comfort,  while  we  were 
with  them,  even  such  Fruits  of  true  Piety  and  good  Lives  and  sober  and 
riXteous  Living,  as  prove  the  Trees  to  be  good  from  which  they  did  proceed 
gMany  or  most  of  those  who  had  born  the  Name  oi  Separatist  Quakers 
(for  their  leaving  the  Meetings  of  the  Quakers,  because  of  their  Opposition  to 
IT  treat  Fundamentals  of*  the  Christian  Faith,  and  had  embraced  the 
Doctine  they  heard  preached  by  me,  concerning  the  Way  of  Salvation  by 
Faltn  in  Jesus  Christ,  both  God  and  Man,  as  he  outwardly  came  in  the  Flesh, 


George  Keith's  Journal.  49 

died  for  our  Sins,  and  rose  again,  &c.  about  the  Years  1691  and  1692,  and 
had  set  up  distinct  Meetings),  we  found  had  joined  with  the  Church  of 
England  Congregation  at  Philadelphia,  before  our  Arrival,  when  we  came 
among  them  :°they  received  us  with  great  Joy  and  Satisfaction  to  hear  us 
preach  what  tended  to  their  farther  Confirmation  in  the  Christian  Faith,  and 
in  Communion  with  the  Church  of  England.  And  they  expressed  the  great 
Benefit  they  had  received  by  my  several  Epistles  I  wrote  to  them  from 
London,  about  the  Years  1698  and  1699,  to  answer  the  Scruples  and 
Objections  some  of  them  had  made  to  me  in  some  of  their  Letters,  against 
joining  with  the  Church  of  England,  which  they  told  me,  gave  them  great 
Satisfaction,  by  the  Blessing  of  God,  to  join  with  the  Church,  and  with  which 
they  joined' soon  after.  And  the  like  Service  my  Epistles  did  to  others  of 
their  Friends,  in  East  and  West-Jersey,  and  other  Parts  of  that  Country,  to 
whom  they  had  imparted  them,  at  my  Desire. 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Evan  Evans,  the  Minister  of  the  Church  of  England 
Congregation  at  Philadelphia,  informed  me,  that  (beside  the  considerable 
Number  of  Converts  to  the  Church  from  Quakerism,  that  the  former  Minister, 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Claiton  had  baptized)  by  his  Account,  since  he  was 
Minister  there,  he  had  baptized  of  Men,  Women,  and  Children,  in  Pensilvania 
and  West-Jersey,  of  English  and  Welsh,  about  Five  hundred;  many,  or 
most  of  them,  having  been  Quakers,  and  the  Children  of  Quakers,  and 
Quakerly  affected ;  and  beside  these,  many  who  had  left  Quakerism,  and  had 
joined  to  the  Church,  had  been  baptized  in  Infancy,  not  having  been  born  of 
Quaker  Parents.  ,     _,     . 

Since  our  Arrival  into  those  American  Parts,  by  the  Blessing  ot  God  upon 
our  Labours  among  them,  in  Pensilvania,  West  and  East-Jersey,  and  New- 
York  Province,  there  have  been,  by  modest  Computation,  at  least  two 
hundred  Persons  baptized  of  Quakers,  and  their  Children,  and  Servants,  and 
of  such  who  were  Quakerly  affected,  by  Mr.  Talbot,  and  Mr.  Evans,  and  by 
me,  and  some  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Vesey,  Minister  of  New- York,  in  that 
Town.  And  beside  these,  many  who  had  been  baptized  in  Infancy,  have 
come  off  from  Quakerism  and  joined  to  the  Church  in  these  Countries,  since 
we  travelled  and  preached  among  them,  and  had  much  Conference  with 
diverse  of  them  in  private  from  House  to  House.  Diverse  also  of  Dissenters 
formerly  disaffected  to  the  Church,  who  were  not  Quakers,  are  become  well 
affected  to  the  Church,  and  her  Publick  way  of  Worship,  and  Administration 
of  the  holy  Sacraments,  as  well  as  to  the  Truth  of  Her  Doctrine,  since  our 
Labouring  among  them,  both  in  East  and  West-Jersey,  and  else  where ;  so 
that,  God=  be  Praised,  almost  in  all  these  Couutries  where  we  Travelled  and 
Laboured,  in  some  of  which  there  was  little  to  be  observed  but  Quakerism,  or 
Heathenism,  which  are  much  one  (and  if  we  may  believe  some  of  the 
Quakers  great  Authors,  they  are  altogether  one,  viz.  the  Religion  of  the 
Quakers,  and  of  such  Heathens,  who  were  obedient  to  the  Light  within  them, 
but  without  all  Faith,  and  Knowledge  of  Christ,  as  he  came  in  the  Flesh). 
I  say,  in  all  these  Countries  almost,  by  the  Blessing  of  God  on  our  Labours, 
there' are  good  Materials  prepared  for  the  Building  of  Churches,  of  living 
Stones,  as  soon  as,  by  the  good  Providence  of  God,  Ministers  shall  be  sent 
amoncr'  them,  who  have  the  discretion  and  due  qualifications  requisite  to 
Build'with  them.     The  Truth  of  which  some  of  the  late  Missionanes  have 

4 


50  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

found,  to  their  great  Comfort,  who,  as  soon  as  they  Arrived1  into  these  Parts, 
unto  which  they  were  sent,  did  find  a  People  prepared  to  receive  them  ;  so 
that  what  others  had  Sown  before  them,  they  have  Reaped,  and  I  hope  will 
more  abundantly  Reap. 

In  Pensilvania,  where  there  was  but  one  Church  of  England  Congregation. 
settled,  to  wit,  at  Philadelphia  (and  even  that  but  of  few  Years  standing)  at 
our  Arrival  there ;  there  are  now,  Blessed  be  Cod,  Five  Church  of  England 
Congregations  supplied  with  Ministers,  and  who  have  convenient  Churches, 
where  the  People  assemble  constantly  every  Lord's  Day  to  the  Prayers  and; 
Sermons,  and  where  the  Holy  Sacraments  are  duly  Administered,  according, 
to  the  Church  of  England.  The  places  in  Pensilvania,  where  these  Churches 
are  set  up,  are,  the  first,  Philadelphia,  the  second  Chester  or  Upland,  the 
third  Franclcfort  alias  Oxford,  the  fourth  New-Castle,  the  fifth  Apoquimene. 

At  Philadelphia,  they  have  Prayers  in  the  Church,  not  only  on  the  Lord's 
Days,  and  other  holy  Days,  but  all  Wednesdays  and  Fridays  weekly,  and  the 
Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  administered  Monthly,  and  the  Number  of 
the  Communicants  considerable.  The  Church  is  commonly  well  filled  with 
People  every  Lord's  Day,  and  when  they  are  fully  assembled,  both  of  the 
Town  and  Country  that  belong  to  that  Congregation,  they  may  well  be 
reckoned,  by  modest  Computation,  to  amount  to  Five  Hundred  Persons  of 
Hearers.  But  sometimes  there  are  many  more ;  and  generally  the  Converts 
from  Quakerism,  are  good  Examples,  both  for  frequenting  the  Church  Prayers, 
and  frequent  partaking  of  the  Lord's-Supper,  with  zeal  and  devotion,  and  also 
of  sober  and  virtuous  Living  in  their  daily  conversation,  to  the  frustrating  the 
lying  Prophecies  and  Expectations  of  the  Quaker  Preachers  especially,  who 
used  to  Prophecy,  that  whoever  left  the  Profession  of  Quakers,  after  thai 
should  be  good  for  nothing,  but  as  unsavoury  Salt,  to  be  trod  under  foot  of 
Men.  But  to  God's  Praise  be  it  said,  they  may  be  generally  compared  with 
the  best  Quakers  for  their  Morals,  and  far  to  exceed  many  of  them  in  that 
respect;  aud  which  greatly  casts  the  Ballance,  that  the  Morals  of  those 
converted  from  Quakerism,  -both  in  England  and  America,  or  any  where  else, 
are  Built  on  the  Foundation  of  the  Prophets  and  Apostles,  Jesus  Christ  being 
the  head  corner  Stone,  which  the  Quakers  Morals  (no  moye  than  the  Heathens) 
are  not  Built  upon. 

At  Burlington  in  West-Jersey,  Twenty  Miles  distant  from  Philadelphia, 
on  the  other  side  of  Delaware-River,  there  is  now  a  settled  Congregation, 
with  a  fixed  Minister,  to  wit,  the  Reverend  Mr.  John  Talbot,  my  Fellow 
Labourer,  where  there  is  a  large  Congregation,  and  a  considerable  Number 
of  Communicants,  many  of  them  having  been  formerly  Quakers,  and  Quaker- 
ly  affected,  or  such  as  were  of  no  particular  denomination.  And  such  of  them 
as  had  not  been  Baptized  in  Infancy,  have  received  Baptism,  partly  by  Mr. 
Evans,  and  partly  by  Mr.  Talbot,  and  some  of  them  by  me.  Mr.  Talbot  has 
Baptized  most  of  them  who  have  been  Baptized,  since  our  Arrival  among 
them,  and  particularly  all  the  Children,  both  Males  and  Females,  of  William 
Budd,  who  formerly  was  a  Quaker-Preacher,  but  is  come  over  from  Quaker- 
ism, to  the  Church,  with  diverse  others  of  the  Neighbourhood,  in  the  Country 
about  the  Town  of  Burlington,  who  come  usually  to  the  Church  at  Burling- 
ton  on  the  Lord's-Day  ;  some  of  them,  Six,  Eight,  and  some  of  them  Ten,  or 
Twelve  Miles,  and  some  of  them  more. 


George  KeitNs  Journal.  51 

In  some  other  Places  they  are  about  Building  Churches,  both  in  West  and 
East- Jersey. 

The  place  at  FrancKfort  in  Pensilvania,  where  the  Congregation  Assembles 
on  the  Lord's-Day,  is  ealled,  Trinity  Chappel,  it  was  formerly  a  Quaker 
Meeting-House,  Built,  or  fitted  by  Quakers,  but  some  time  ago  has  been  given 
to  the  Church,  by  such  who  had  the  Right  to  it :  Some  Land  adjoining  was 
given  by  a  Person  well  affected  to  the  Church,  for  the  use  of  the  Minister, 
who  should  reside  there,  for  a  House,  Garden,  and  small  Orchard. 

I  can  say  little  to  any  Success  we  had  in  America,  amongst  the  other  sort 
of  Quakers,  though,  as  the  above-written  Journal  sheweth,  I  Laboured  much 
among  them,  in  true  Love,  and  good  Will ;  but  they  being  misled,  and 
prejudiced  by  their  Leaders,  seemed  too  generally  to  reject  my  Labour  of 
Love  ;  however,  I  am  not  without  hope,  that  the  Seed  that  God  had  enabled 
me  to  Sow  among  them,  will  in  some  of  them,  in  due  time,  take  Root  down- 
ward, and  bear  Fruit  upward,  though  little  of  it  doth  yet  appear. 

There  are  now  Thirteen  Ministers  in  the  Northern  Parts  of  America,  all 
placed  within  these  two  Years  last  past,  and  generally  Supported  and 
Maintained  by  the  Honourable  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts. 

In  all  the  Places  where  we  travelled,  the  Governours  of  all  the-  several 
Provinces,  did  very  kindly  treat  us,  and  give  us  all  possible  Countenance  and 
Encouragement  that  we  could  desire  or  expect. 


52  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Here  followeth  an  Account  of  the  several  Treatises  I  wrote  and 
published  in  Print,  in  North  America,  within  the  Time  of  my 
Abode  there,  in  the   Years  1702,  and  1703,  to  1704. 


MYt 


Sermon    I   preached    at   Boston,  on   Ephes.   2.  20.   printed 
there. 

II.  My  printed  Sheet,  in  a  Letter  to  Mr.  Samuel  Willard,  a  Preacher  at 
Boston. 

III.  My  Reply  to  Mr.  Increase  Mather's  printed  Remarks  against  the  Six 
Rules  I  gave  in  my  Sermon,  on  Ephes.  2.  20. 

IV.  My  Answer  to  Mr.  Samuel  Willard's  Reply  to  my  printed  Sheet. 

V.  My  Answer  to   Caleb  Pusey  Quaker,  his  Book  against  me,  which  he 
abusively  called,  Proteus  Ecclesiasticus. 

VI.  The  Account  of  the  blasphemous  Notions  of  William  Davis,  who 
after  he  left  the  Quakers,  set  up  for  a  Sect-Master. 

VII.  My  Answer  to  a  second  Book  of  Caleb  Pusey  against  me. 

VIII.  My  Sermon  preached  at  New-York,  on  Acts  2.  41,  42. 

IX.  My  Sermon  preached  at  New- York,  on  1  Cor.  12.  13. 

X.  My  Sermon  preached  at  Annapolis  in  Maryland,  on  1  Thes.  1.  5. 

All  these  bound  up  in  one  Book,  I  humbly  presented  to  the  Society,  soon 
after  my  Arrival  at  London  :  The  Book  it  self  may  be  found  at  the  Library 
of  the  most  Reverend  Thomas  Lord  Arch  Bishop  of  Canterbury,  by  St. 
Martins  in  the  Fields,  where  the  Society  useth  to  meet. 


George  Keith's  Journal.  53 


APPENDIX. 

The  Six  Rules  above-mentioned,  in  the  first  Sheet  of  the 
foregoing  Journal,  are  these  following. 


The  First  Rule. 

WHATEVER  is  enjoyn'd  by  our  Superiours,  if  it  contradict  not  God's 
Commands  in  Holy  Scripture,  ought  for  Conscience  sake  to  be 
obev'd,  according  to  1  Pet.  2.  13,  14,  Bom.  13.  5.  Heb.  13  1  17.  ^.And  if 
what  they  enjoyn,  be  not  made  a  Command  of  God,  or  an  Article  of  *aith,  or 
a  Means  of  Grace. 

The    Second  Rule. 

Whatever  Church  holds  the  Fundamentals  of  Christian  Religion,  and  has 
the  Word  of  God  dulv  Preach'd,  and  the  Sacraments  of  Baptism  and  the 
Lord's-Supper  duly  Administered ;  such  a  Church  is  a  true  Church  of  Christ ; 
and  to  separate  from  such  a  Church  in  external  Communion,  and  in  external 
Acts  of  Worship,  is  a  Sin,  the  which  Sin  is  the  Sin  of  Schism,  that  is  very 
heinous,  Bom.  16.  17.  1  Cor.  12.  25.  1  Cor.  1.  10,  13.  and  nothing  can 
excuse  from  the  Guilt  of  that  Sin,  unless  when  anything  is  enjoyn  d  to  Persons 
that  is  really  sinful  and  contrary  to  God's  Commands  given  us  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures  ;  not  what  Men,  bv  Prejudice  of  Education,  or  by  wrong  Informa- 
tion, say  is  Sin,  but  what  really  is  so,  and  can  be  clearly  proved  to  be  so  out 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  And  if  they  cannot  join  in  one  or  some  external 
Acts  of  Worship,  because  sinful;  yet  in  other  Acts  they  ought  to  join  that 
are  not  sinful. 

The  Third  Rule. 

What  Thino-s  we  see  amiss  in  particular  Persons,  are  not  to  be  charged 
upon  the  whole  Church,  unless  the  Church  do  justify  those  Persons  m  those 
Thino-s :  and  what  we  can't  amend,  we  ought  to  bear ;  for  there  is  no 
Christian  Society  upon  Earth  but  has  some  particular  Persons  that  do  amiss ; 
and  all  Dissenters,  when  particular  Failings  of  particular  Persons  are  objected 
to  them,  give  the  like  Excuse. 


54-  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

The  Fourth  Rule. 

To  join  in  external  Acts  of  Publick  Worship,  where  the  Matter  is  found, 
tho'  there  be  a  great  Mixture  of  unsound  Members  with  others  found,  is  no 
Sin,  but  our  Duty,  for  which  we  are  warranted  both  by  the  Practice  of  the 
Prophets,  and  other  holy  Persons  in  the  Ancient  Jewish  Church,  who  never 
did  separate  from  the  Publick  Worship  of  God  when  the  Matter  of  it  was 
found,  notwithstanding  that  Things  were  very  much  amiss,  amongst  them  in 
Practice :  And  also  by  the  Example  of  Zacharias  and  Elizabeth,  and  all 
other  holy  Persons  that  were  then  in  the  Jewish  Church,  and  by  the  Example 
of  our  Saviour  himself  and  his  Apostles,  who  frequented  the  Temple  Worship, 
performed  in  the  Synagogues  before  our  Saviour's  Passion,  that  put  an  end  to 
Circumcision,  and  Sacrifices,  and  other  Types  of  the  Old  Testament. 

The  Fifth  Rule, 

Whatsoever  Things  were  commanded  of  God,  or  allow'd  and  practised 
lawfully  under  the  Old  Testament,  that  were  neither  any  Part  of  the 
Ceremonial  Law,  nor  of  the  Jewish  Polity  peculiar  to  that  Nation,  are  still 
binding  to  us  under  the  New  Testament,  or  allow'd  and  practiced  lawfully ; 
and  a  Proof  out  of  the  Old  Testament,  in  all  such  Cases,  is  as  good  as  a  Proof 
out  of  the  New. 

The  Sixth  Rule. 

_  Set  Forms  of  Prayer  and  Thanksgiving  (where  the  People  pray  Vocally 
with  the  Minister)  are  a  Duty  as  well  under  the  New  Testament  as  the  Old ; 
and  that  it  was  practised  under  the  Old,  is  clear  from  Isa.  29.  13.  Joel  2.  11. 
Mos.  14.  2,  3,  Mat.  15.  8,  &c.  And  under  the  New  Testament  our  Saviour 
gave  a  Form  of  Prayer  to  his  Disciples,  which  he  commanded  his  Disciples 
to  say  ;  and  John  the  Baptist  taught  his  Disciples  a  Form  of  Prayer,  Luke 
11.  2.  And  many  of  the  Dissenters  use  the  Form  of  Benediction  after 
Sermon,  The  Grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  &c.  And  they  use  the  Form 
of  Words  that  Christ  taught,  both  in  Baptism  and  the  Lord's-Supper.  Under 
the  Old  Testament  they  were  to  pray  with  the  Spirit,  and  with  Sincerity  of 
Heart  and  Affection,  as  well  as  under  the  New ;  and  therefore  if  praying  in  a 
*orm  was  not  then  inconsistent  with  praying  by  the  Spirit,  no  more  is  it 


FINIS. 


Keith,  and  Talbot.  55 

[In  continuation  of  the  story  of  the  Church's  progress,  as  well  as  in  fur- 
ther illustration  of  Mr.  Talbot's  character,  we  resume  here  the  publication 
of  his  letters.] 

Mr.  Talbot  to  Mr.  Keith. 

"  N.  York,  October  20th,  1705. 
"  Reverend  Sir  : 

"  We  received  advice  from  Barbadoes  that  your  Fleet  was 
arrived,  a  confirmation  of  which  we  shall  be  glad  to  have  from  yourself.  We 
the  clergy  in  these  Provinces,  Pensilvania,  N.  Jersey,  and  N.  York,  being  con- 
vened here  by  the  directions  of  my  Lord  Cornbury  and  his  Excellency  Gover- 
nour  Nicholson,  to  make  a  representation  of  the  present  state-  of  affair*  of  the 
Church,  which  we  have  drawn  up,  in  a  scheme,  and  transmitted  to  your  vene- 
rable Society  signed  by  the  twelve  apostles,  I  mean  to  do-  in  this  Letter  as  I 
do  in  my  Travels,  touch  and  go  from  place  to  place,  and  tell  you  such  things 
as  I  thought  not  so  proper  for  the  Public  view.  I  got  some  hundreds  of  Fr. 
Buggs  Books  printed,  which  I  had  endorsed  with  a  challenge  and  so  was 
bound  to  answer  it  \  but  I  could  not  provoke  the  friends  to  it  by  no  means. 
No  they  say,  as  they  used  to  do,  that  they  will  answer  in  print.  Then  I 
offered  to  take  the  two  Almanacks  by  Dan.  Leeds  and  Caleb  Pusey  and  prove 
them  by  Friends  Books.  I  challenged  ye  latter  at  ye  head  of  his  Regi- 
ment to  come  forth  and  see  himself  proved  a  Lyar,  in  ye  very  same  book 
and  page  where  he  most  impudently  charges  G.  K.  D.  L.  and  ye  eight 
ministers  of  your  Church  of  England.  But  all  I  could  get  of  them  at  present 
was  this  sorry  paper,  "  False  News  from  Gath,"  which  I  intend  to  answer  with 
"  true  news  to  Gath,"  Ashdod  and  the  rest  of  the  uncircumcised,  unbaptized 
Philistines ;  at  length  I  appointed  a  meeting  at  Church,  whether  they  would 
come  or  no,  and  there  I  exposed  their  errors  before  all  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren that  were  there ;  but  none  answered  a  word,  though  several  Quakers 
were  there,  whilst  I,  Mr.  Sharpe  and  Mr.  Nichols  examined  ye  "  Bomb,"  and 
D.  L.  Almanack  by  their  books,  and  proved  ye  quotations  true.  I  have  hired 
a  chamber  at  Burlington,  where  I  keep  the  present  collection  of  friends  books  \. 
several  of  them  came  to  me  there  and  were  satisfied,,  but  some  desired  me  to 
set  down  my  quotations  book  and  page,  which  I  promised  to  do-at  my  leisure, 
particularly  to  one  of  their  friends  of  ye  ministry  whom  I  believe  will  come  off. 
I  have  forgot  his  name,  he  lives  near  Peter  Chamberlain's  in  Pensilvania.  Mr. 
Sharpe  was  very  jealous  to  bring  ye  Quakers  to  stand  a  tryal ;  he  carried  one 
of  ye  Bombs  into  their  meeting,  and  read  a  new  challenge  which  I  sent  them,  to 
answer  what  they  they  had  printed  ;  but  all  in  vain.  Sam.  Jennings  stood  up 
and  said,  '  Friends  let's  call  upon  God  ;'  then  they  went  to  Prayer  and  so  their 
meeting  broke  up.  Since,  I  have  read  several  scandalous  Letters  from  several 
Quakers,  whereby  I  see  they  are  preparing  War  against  me ;  one  was  from 
W.  Bakeshaw,  the  same  villain  that  pulled  ye  paper  out  of  your  hand  last 
yearly  meeting  at  Philadelphia.  He  said  there  was  not  a  word  of  truth  in  the 
Bomb,  and  he  would  answer  it  but  none  appeared.  Mr.  Nichol,  Mr.  Sharp 
and  I  preached  in  our  turns,  proper  sermons  to  warn  ye  people  of  their  errors, 
and  heresies ;  so  we  kept  up  ye  Christian  yearly  meeting  so  happily  begun  by 


56  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

you  at  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Nichols  gives  his  service  to  you,  he  is  indeed  an 
ingenious  man,  and  will  prove  in  all  appearance  an  able  hand  against  Quaker- 
ism. I  have  promised  to  set  him  up  with  friends,  goods,  &c.  ;  we  mean  to  go 
down  to  Chester  and  give  him  a  broad  side  there  if  the  Governour  will  give  us 
leave.  They  are  all  out  at  Philadelphia  as  much  about  Government  as  ever 
they  were  about  religion.     There  is  Charter  against  Commission  and  Major 

.  against  Governour.  They  have  2  sheriffs,  Captain  Fenny  appointed  by  Governor 
Evans,  and  young  John  Budd  by  ye  Major.  Now  the  Governour  proclaimed 
their  proceedings  null  and  void,  but  G.  Jones  told  him  it  was  not  he  nor  his, 
neither  that  should  take  away  their  Charter ;  so  much  for  State  affairs,  you 
may  hear  all  perhaps  one  of  these  days  in  Westminster  Hall,  meanwhile  here's 
a  Government  divided  against  itself;  God  preserve  his  Church  and  let  them 
that  have  the  watch  look  out.  There  is  a  new  meeting  house  built  for 
Andrews,  and  almost  finished  since  you  came  away,  which  I  am  afraid  will 

■  draw  away  great  part  of  the  Church,  if  there  be  not  yc  greatest  care  taken  of 
it ;  Mr.  Rudman  serves  there  some  times,  but  chiefly  at  the  Country  Church 

,(in  Oxford  near  Frankfort)  with  good  success ;  but  he  has  met  with  some  dis- 
turbance from  Edward  Eaton,   who  has  been  very  pevish  and  scandalous 

•  in  words  and  writings,  for  which  he  was  presented  to  ye  Grand  Jury,  but 
■it  was  hard  to  persuade  them  to  find  the  Bill ;  but  what  will  come  of  it 

I  know  not. 

"  Mr.  Sharp  and  I  have  gone  the  rounds  several  times  from  Burlington  to 
Arnboy,  to  Hopwell,  to  Elizabeth  Town,  to  Staten  Island  in  our  turns,  with 
good  success,  God  be  blessed,  in  all  places.  He  has  gathered  a  Church  him- 
self at  Cheesquaks,  where  he  preached  several  times,  and  baptized  about  forty 
persons.  Now  I  am  alone,  for  my  Lord  Cornbury  has  preferred  him  to 
'be  Chaplain  of  Her  Majesty's  Fort  and  Forces  at  N.  York.  I  saw  his  Com- 
mission signed  this  day  in  ye  room  of  Mr.  Mott  who  dyed  about  3  months 
ago.     I  was  loth  to  part  with  my  good  friend  and  companion  in  travel,  but 

•  considering  how  he  had  been  disappointed  at  home,  I  would  not  hinder  his 
preferment  abroad,  hoping  that  the  good  providence  of  God  and  ye  venerable 
■Society  will  supply  his  place. 

"The  Assembly  sat  at  Burlington  in  September,  but  did  nothing  that  my 
Lord  desired  them,  so  he  dissolved  them  and  called  another  there  in  October. 
Now  I  hear  that  Mr.  Wheeler  our  good  friend  is  chosen  instead  of  Thomas 
Gardener.  It  seems  their  interest  goes  down  thereabouts.  Sam.  Jennings 
complains  that  a  man  can't  turn  friend  of  truth  now  but  he  is  ridiculed  out  of 
it.  I  hope'  the  venerable  Society  will  take  Mr.  Bradford's  case  into  their  consider- 
ation. It  has  cost  me  Ten  pounds  and  more  out  of  my  Pocket  to  print  some 
small  books  !to  give  away,  where  I  could  not  stay  that  the  Church  might 
■be  served  and  the  Printer  employed,  without  setting  forth  those  that  are  erro- 
neous. I  know  you  will  not  forget  ye  Reverend  Mr.  James,  who  has  been  so 
zealous  for  ye  service  of  ye  Church,  since  you  put  him  upon  it.  I  count  him 
as  my  father  now  you  are  gone,  and  indeed  our  Convocation  had  been  at 
a  Loss  for  a  Foreman  had  not  he  supplied  the  place  by  his  gravity  and  wis- 
dom. I  have  drawn  another  Bill  upon  Mr.  Hodges,  not  knowing  when 
I  should  have  so  good  opportunity ;  besides  I  have  been  at  more  than  ordi- 
nary charge  for  horses  and  cloaths,  for  I  never  received  any  from  England 
since  I  came  out  of  it.     As  for  that  parcel  that  my  Friend  Mr.  Gillingham 


Keith  and  Talbot.  57 

sent  by  Capt.  Tnnifer,  I  can't  hear  what  is  become  of  it.  My  horse  you  know- 
dyed  at  Burlington  and  ye  Quakers  recorded  it  as  a  judgment  upon  me. 
Ben.  Wheat  set  it,  down  in  his  Almanack,  such  a  day  of  ye  1st  month,  John 
Talbot's  horse  dyed,  and  Barnet  Lane  haled  him  into  the  river.  But  I  was 
more  sorry  for  the  mare  that  you  were  so  kind  to  give  me,  for  she  dyed  before 
i  came  over  the  Bay  in  Maryland.  I  hope  ye  venerable  Society  will  see  good 
to  take  you  into  their  number,  for  it  may  be  of  use  to  them  to  have  one  there 
that  has  been  here.  I  hope  the  Letter  will  come  safe  to  your  hand  by  Mr. 
Robert  Owen  minister  of  a  church  in  Maryland  who  is  a  very  honest  Gentle- 
man. And  indeed  so  are  all  the  Missionarys  in  general,  especially  the  English 
one  Mr.  More,  the  only  countryman  we  have  amongst  us,  a  man  according  to 
my  own  heart,  I'm  sorry  he's  to  go  so  far  off  as  ye  Mohocks,  God  knows 
whether  we  shall  see  him  again.  1  had  ye  same  call  and  had  gone  to  the 
same  place,  but  when  I  saw  so  many  people  of  my  own  nation  and  tongue,  I 
soon  resolved  by  God's  grace  to  seek  them  in  ye  first  place,  and  if  we  could 
not  recover  those  that  were  fallen,  yet  by  God's  help  we  may  keep  them  out 
of  ye  pit  of  Quakers  and  Hereticks  who  have  denyed  ye  Faith  and  are  worse 
than  Indians  and  Heathens  who  never  knew  it. 

"  As  for  a  Suffragan  we  are  all  sensible  of  ye  want  we  have  of  one,  and 
prav  God  send  us  a  man  of  peace,  for  otherwise  he  will  do  more  harm  than 
good,  as  proud,  ambitious,  covetous  men  used  to  do,  troubling  the  State  and 
perplexing  the  Church,  and  then  they  run  away,  and  leave  all  in  the  lurch. 
I  saw  our  honored  friend,  Coll.  Nicholson,  last  month  at  Burlington,  where  he 
staid  a  week  or  ten  days.  I  was  obliged  to  him  every  way,  particularly  for 
his  friendly  advice  in  a  case  that  was  difficult  to  me  at  that  time,  but  I  shall 
not  mention  names  because  I  am  resolved,  by  God's  grace,  to  take  heed 
what  I  say  of  any  man,  whether  good  or  bad. 

"  Coll.  Nicholson  took  Bills  of  Mr.  Bass  for  the  money  in  hand,  £70, 
Pensylvania  money,  and  gave  it  all  to  the  Churches  in  these  Provinces,  with 
Bills  of  Exchange  to  make  it  up  £100  sterling,  besides  what  he  subscribed  to 
the  Churches  to  be  erected  at  Hopewell,  Elizabeth  Town,  Amboy  and  Salem. 
We  have  made  it  appear  that  he  has  exhibited  to  the  Churches  in  these 
Provinces  about  £1000  :  besides,  what  he  has  given  to  particular  persons  and 
the  poor  would  amount  to  some  hundreds  more,  which  we  did  not  think  fit 
to  mention.  He  is  a  man  of  as  much  prudence,  temperance,  justice,  and 
fortitnde  as  any  Governor  in  America,  without  disparagement  to  any,  and  of 
much  more  zeal  for  the  house  and  service  of  God.  I  have  seen  four  of  them 
together  at  Church  in  Burlington,  but  in  the  afternoon  their  place  had  been 
empty  had  it  not  been  for  the  Honorable  Governor  Nicholson  ;  so  that  I  can't 
but  observe  the  example  of  his  piety  in  the  Church,  is  as  rare  as  his  bounty 
towards  it ;  no  wonder  then  that  all  that  love  the  Church  of  England  are 
fond  of  Governor  Nicholson,  who  is  a  true  son,  or  rather  a  nursing  father,  of 
her  in  America.  I  hope  you  will  do  him  all  the  service  you  can  at  home 
whereby  you  will  oblige  all  the  Churches  abroad. 

"  Mr.  Urquhart  is  well  chosen  for  the  people  of  Jamaica,  and  indeed  I 
think  none  fitter  than  the  Scotch  Episcopal  to  deal  with  Whigs  and  Fanaticks 
of  all  sorts.  Had  not  Stuttart  been  allowed  to  preach  he  had  brought  them 
all  to  the  Church  almost  by  this  time  ;  but  now  they  resort  most  to  a  barn  that 
is  hard  by,  and  will  not  pay  Mr.  Urquhart  what  is  allowed  by  Law,  though 


58  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

my  Lord  Cornbury  has  given  his  orders  for  it.  Mr.  John  Lillingston  designs, 
it.  seems,  to  go  for  England  next  year ;  he  seems  to  be  the  fittest  person  that 
America  affords  for  the  office  of  a  suffragan,  and  several  persons,  both  of  the 
Laity  and  Clergy,  have  wished  he  were  the  man  ;  and  if  my  Lord  of  London 
thought  fit  to  authorize  him,  several  of  the  Clergy  both  of  this  Province  and  of 
Maryland  have  said  they  would  pay  their  tenths  unto  him,  as  my  Lord  of 
London's  Vicegerent,  whereby  the  Bishop  of  America  might  have  as 
honorable  provision  as  some  in  Europe.  Ah,  Mr.  Keith,  I  have  wanted  you 
but  once,  that  is  ever  since  you  went.  I  pray  God  supply  your  place  with 
such  another,  who  will  pass  through  all  Governments  serving  the  Church, 
without  giving  offence  unto  the  State.  I  hope,  good  Sir,  you  will  excuse 
this  long  Letter.  I  had  not  time  to  write  a  short  one ;  therefore,  amicitia 
nostra,  i  desire  that  you  would  take  all  in  good  part  that  comes  from 
"  Your  most  faithful  friend 

"  And  humble  servant, 

"  John  Talbot." 


[We  next  find  Mr.  Talbot  in  England,  whither  he  had  gone  on  business  of 
the  church,  as  his  letters  will  explain.] 

Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel. 

"  London,  March  14,  1706. 

"  May  it  please  the  Reverend  and 

Right  Honorable  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel : 

"  After  I  had  travelled  with  Mr.  G.  Keith  through  nine  or  ten  Provinces 
between  New  England  and  North  Carolina,  I  took  my  leave  of  him  in  Mary- 
land. The  Assembly  then  sitting  offered  me  £100  sterling  to  go  and 
Proselite  their  Indians ;  but  my  call  was  to  begin  at  home,  and  to  teach  our 
own  People  first,  ■  whose  Language  we  did  understand ;  so  I  returned  to 
Burlington  to  finish  the  Church  which  was  happily  begun  there.  Mr.  Sharpe 
came  to  my  assistance  where  I  left  him  to  supply  that  hopeful  and  infant 
Church,  whilst  I  went  to  East  Jersey  for  Amboy,  Elizabeth  Town,  Wood- 
bridge  and  Staten-Island.  This  we  did  by  turns  about  half  a  year  till  Mr. 
Mott  dyed  who  was  Chaplain  of  the  Queen's  Fort  and  Forces  at  New  York. 
I  was  offered  this  place  also,  where  I  should  have  Board  and  Lodging  and 
£130  per  annum,  paid  weekly  ;  but  nothing  could  tempt  me  from  the 
service  of  the  Society  who  were  pleased  to  adopt  me  into  their  service,  before 
I  had  the  honour  to  know  them.  Mr.  Sbarpe  was  glad  to  embrace  this 
offer ;  so  I  travelled  alone,  doing  what  good  I  could,  till  last  Summer,  I  met 
with  Mr.  John  Brook  who  brought  me  a  letter  from,  my  Lord  of  London  and 
orders  to  fix  at  Burlington,  as  I  did  till  November  last.  There  was  a  general 
meeting  of  the  Missionarys  who  resolved  to  address  the  Queen  for  a  suffragan 
Bishop,  that  I  should  travel  with  it,  and  make  known  the  requests  of  some  of 
the  Brethren  abroad,  whose  case  we  had  recommended  formerly  by  Letter  to 
the  Venerable  Society,  but  without  success.  It  will  be  four  years  next  June 
since  I  associated  with  Mr.  Keith.     I  was  allowed  £60  per  annum  for  three 


Keith  and  Talbot.  S'9 


years,  but  for  the  last  I  had  nothing  iieither  here  nor  there.  I  have  no 
Business  here  but  to  solicit  for  a  Suffragan,  Books  and  Ministers  for  the 
propagating  the  Gospel.  God  has  so  blessed  ray  Labors  and  Travels  abroad 
that  I  am  fully  resolved  by  his  Grace  to  return,  the  sooner  the  better,  having 
done  the  Business  that  I  came  about ;  meanwhile  my  Living  in  Gloucester- 
shire is  given  away,  but  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt  of  any  Encouragement 
from  this  famous  Society  who  have  done  more  in  four  years  for  America  than 
ever  was  done  before  ;  and  your  Petitioner  will  ever  pray.  God  bless  all  our 
Benefactors  in  Heaven  and  Earth,  and  reward  them  for  ever,  for  all  the  Good 
they  have  done  to  the  Church  in  general  and  in  particular  to 
"  Your  most  humble  servant  and 
"Obedient  Missionary, 

"John  Talboi." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"  London,  April  16th,  1707. 
u Honored  Sir" 

"  I  have  received  several  letters  from  my  friends  in  America 
who  long  for  my  return,  which  I  was  forward  to  do  once  and  again,  but  Satan 
hindered  me  by  raising  lies  and  slanders  in  my  way.  But  I  have  cleared 
myself  to  all  that  have  heard  me,  and  I  hope  you  will  satisfy  the  Honorable 
Society  that  I  am  not  the  man  to  whom  that  dark  character  did  belong.  Mr. 
Keith  has  known  my  doctrine  and  manner  of  life  some  years,  what  I  have  ven- 
tured, suffered  and  acted  for  the  Gospel  of  Christ  abroad  and  at  home.  I  desire 
his  letter  may  be  read  to  the  Honorable  Board,  and  that  they  will  be  pleased 
to  dispatch  me,  the  sooner  the  better,  for  the  season  is  far  spent,  and  the 
•ships  are  going  out,  and  if  I  go  at  all,  I  would  go  quickly.  I  know  the 
wants  of  the  poor  people  in  America.  They  have  need  of  me  or  else  I 
should  not  venture  my  life  to  do  that  abroad  which  I  could  do  more  to  my 
■own  advantage  at  home.  I  should  be  glad  to  see  somebody  sent  to  North 
Carolina.  I  hope  the  Planters'  letters  are  not  quite  forgotten.  'Tis  a  sad 
thing  to  live  in  the  wilderness  like  the  wild  Indians  without  God  in  the 
world. 

"  Your  humble  Servant, 

"John  Talbot." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 
[Written  after  his  return  to  America.] 

"  Philadelphia,  20th  August,  1708. 
*' HoNGR&Bi/E  Sir: 

"  I  have  written  several  letters  to  you  from  Boston  and  New 
York  by  Brothers  Brookes  and  Moore ;  but  I  am  afraid  they  are  all  lost 


60  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

together ;  they  have  been  nine  months  gone,  and  we  saw  them  not  since,  nor 
any  news  of  them.  I  met  them  at  Boston  and  would  persuade  them  to 
return,  but  all  in  vain  ;  they  had  been  so  dragooned  that  they  had  rather  be 
taken  into  France  than  into  the  Fort  at  New  York.  I  have  carried  on  ever 
since  at  Burlington  as  well  as  I  could,  and  I  thank  God  with  success  wherever 
I  am  ;  but  I  cannot  stay  long  at  any  place,  because  there  are  so  many  that 
want,  certainly  the  present  state  of  that  province  is  worse  than  the  first;  we 
have  lost  our  labour  and  the  Society  their  cost,  there  being  several  Churches 
and  no  ministers  in  all  East  Jersey  to  supply  them,  so  that  they  fall  away 
apace  to  Heathenism,  Quakerism  and  Atheism,  purely  for  lack  of  looking 
after.  Mr.  Brooks  and  Mr.  Moore  are  much  lamented,  being  the  most  pious 
and  industrious  Missionaries  that  ever  the  Honorable  Society  sent  over ;  let 
the  adversaries  say  what  they  will  they  can  prove  no  evil  thing  against  these 
men.  I  have  heard  all  sides  and  parties,  what  can  be  said  pro  or  con.  Mr. 
Honeyman  is  outed,  Mr.  Nicholls  scouted  into  Maryland  ;  he  had  come  home 
had  I  not  dissuaded  him,  and  I  could  have  hindered  all  the  rest  of  these 
scandals  and  disorders  but  that  we  had  no  Bishop  nor  hopes  of  any ;  you 
would  not  hear  of  it,  therefore  I  said  you  must  hear  worse  and  worse  still,  if 
aught  can  be  worse  than  that  the  bodies  and  souls  of  men  are  ruined  and  undone, 
and  the  Bounty  of  the  Society  lost,  for  lack  of  an  overseer  of  the  poor  Church 
in  America ;  without  which  the  Gospel  cannot  be  planted,  nor  any  good  work 
propagated  in  the  World.  The  Bible  you  sent  to  Hopewell  I  was  willing  to 
take  to  Burlington  till  more  came  over,  because  ours  is  worn  out ;  they  that 
come  I  hope  will  bring  Books  with  them.  I  shall  write  more  particularly  by 
the  next  opportunity.  God  bless  all  our  friends  of  the  Honorable  Society, 
remaining  theirs  and 

w  Your  humble  servant, 

"John  Talbot" 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"  Burlington,  24th  August,  1708. 
"  Honorable  Sir  : 

"  It  is  now  nine  months  ago  since  I  parted  with  Mr.  Brooks  and 
Mr.  Moore  at  Boston  ;  I  sent  letters  by  them,  but  we  are  much  afraid  all  are 
miscarried.  I  was  always  glad  to  see  them  but  mueh  surprised  to  meet  them 
both  there ;  they  told  me  what  hardship  they  met  with  from  the  Governors  of 
New  York  and  Jersey,  and  how  they  escaped  out  of  their  hands  *,  I  was  for 
converting  them  back  again,  telling  them  the  dangers  of  the  sea  and  the 
enemy,  but  poor  Thorogood*  said  he  had  rather  be  taken  into  France  than 
into  the  Fort  at  New  York ;  and  if  they  were  sunk  in  the  sea,  they  did  not 
doubt  but  God  would  receive  them,  sinee  they  were  persecuted  for  righteous- 
ness, that  is  for  Christ's  sake  and  his  Gospel,  and  doing  their  duty  to  the  best  of 
their  knowledge.     Truly  as  it  was  in  the  beginning  so  I  find  it  in  the  end ;  all 

*  The  Rev.  Thorogood  Moore  is  meant — Ed. 


Keith  and  Talbot.  61 

that  will  live  Godly  in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suffer  persecution  ;  hut  somebody 
mu«t  answer  for  these  things  at  home  or  abroad.  If  I  could  have  given 
them  any  hopes  of  a  Bishop  or  Suffragan  to  direct  or  protect  them,  1  believe 
they  would  not  have  gone;  nay,  I  would  have  hindred  them;  but  alas!  1 
had  no  such  hopes  myself:  I  came  over  to  be  as  good  as  my  word  rather 
than  on  any  encouragement  to  do  any  good;  meanwhile,  I  am  pure  from  the 
Blood  of  all  men;  ye  are  my  Witnesses  that  I  pleaded  with  all  my  soul  to 
send  an  overseer  of  this  poor  Church,  but  you  would  not  hear;  therefore  is 
this  evil  come  upon  us.  I  don't  doubt  but  by  God's  mercy  their  souls  are 
n6t  miscarried,  they  are  in  peace  wheree'r  they  be  I  don't  doubt ;  but  we 
Christians  in  Jersey  are  most  miserable;  we  have  Churches  now  but  no 
ministers  to  open  them,  and  if  the  gate  of  Heaven  be  shut,  the  gates  of  Hell 
will  soon  prevail  against  us.  ,,,,.,    , 

"  This  comes  to  you  in  the  bosom  of  Mr.  Moore's  which  he  gave  me  at 
Boston    which  was  the   last  that  I  had  of  him ;  he  is  much  lamented,  as 
indeed 'they  are  both ;  as  for  Thorowgood,  I  never  knew  his  fellow  of  his  age, 
nor  ever  shall  ao-ain  I  fear ;  nothing  can  make  this  country  amends  for  their 
loss  but  a  o-ood  Bishop  ;  but  alas  !  that  is  vara  avis  in  terns,  &c.     I  preached 
the   Gospel   at  Marble-Head,  where  the  people  offered  to  subscribe  some 
hundreds  of  pounds  to  build  a  Church ;  but  I  have  resolved  to  build  no  more 
Churches  till  there  are  more  ministers  to  serve  the  Churches  that  are  built. 
I  preached  at  Stratford  as  T  came  along  in  Connecticut  Colony,  where  was  a 
numerous  auditory,  and  Mr.  Muirson  had  forty  Communicants  there  the  first 
time   ever  the  Holy   Sacrament  was  rightly  administered;    and  upon  the 
Islands,  Rhode  Island,  Long  Island,  and  Staten  Island,  I  preached  till  the 
Winter  broke  up,  when  I  got  to  Amboy  and  Elizabeth  Town,  where  had 
been  nobody  since  Mr.  Brook  left  them,  who  was  an   able   and   diligent 
Missioner  as  ever  came  over ;  I  got  home  about  our  Lady  day,  where  I  was 
very  welcome  to  all  Christian  people,  but  alas !  I  could  not  stay,  I  am  forced 
to  turn  Itinerant  again,  for  the  care  of  all  the  Churches  from  East  to  West 
Jersey  is  upon  me ;  what  is  the  worst  is  that  I  can't  confirm  any  nor  have  not 
a  Deacon  to  help  me.     My  Clerk  is  put  in  prison,  and  was  taken  from  the 
Church  on  the  Lord's  day  upon  a  civil  action  of  meum  and  tuum.  .  I  don  t 
know  how  soon  I  may  be  seized  so  myself,  but  I  bless  God  I  fear  no  evil  so 
loner  as  I  do  none ;  Exurgat  deus  dissipentur  inimic,  &c.     I  hear  there  is 
another  Governor  coming  for  these  provinces ;  people  are  sorry  it  is  another 
Lord  for  they  say  there  never  came  a  good  one  into  these  parts.     I  may  say 
of  them  as  the  Quakers  did  of  me,  '  Thee  comest  for  money,'  but  I  proved 
them  Liars,  for  I  have  taken  no  money  of  them  nor  yet  of  others  since  1 
'  came      I  shall  say  no  more  on  this  point  but  refer  all  to  Mr.  Moore's  letter, 
which  I  hope  will  have  some  weight  with  the  Honorable  Society,  because 
they  are  the  last  words  of  their  best  Missioner  when  he  was  in  prison  for  the 
Gospel  of  Christ  and  for  a  good  conscience.     His  humble  proposal  is  that  the 
Honorable  Society  would  use  their  interest  with  the  Queen  that  we  might 
have  men  of  morals  for  Governors,  if  not  of  Religion  ;  I  say  the  same,  and 
pray  God  direct  them  all  for  the  best ;  so  I  desire  your  prayers  for, 
F    J  "Sir, 

"  Your  most  humble  servant, 

"John  Talbot." 


62  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"  Burlington,  30th  June,  1709.    1 

"  Sir  : 

"  I  received  your  long  letter  and  find  Certamen  est  de  lana 
Caprina.  For  your  moderation,  which  is  nothing  in  the  world  but  a  name 
which  St.  Paul  never  used  in  all  his  Epistles  nor  anything  like  it,  but  one 
where  'tis  wrong  translated  ;  it  should  be  let  your  gentleness  be  known  to  all 
men,  which  I  am  for  as  much  as  anybody,  towards  man  and  Beast  too;  but  if 
you  mean  moderation  in  Religion,  as  one  said  here,  'I  don't  care  whether  I  go 
to  Heaven  or  Hell."  Good  sir  pardon  your  servant  in  this  thing,  but  let  us 
not  differ  about  words,  but  follow  the  things  that  are  for  peace,  and  things 
whereby  we  may  plant  the  Gospel  and  edify  the  Church  of  God.  I  am  very 
glad  to  find  by  the  President's  letter,  that  the  members  of  the  Honourable 
Society  are  convinced,  that  a  head  is  necessary  to  the  body,  but  if  he  don't 
make  haste  he  will  come  too  late,  for  here  is  nothing  established,  but  such  a 
moderation  to  all  that  is  good,  and  such  a  toleration  of  all  that  is  evil,  yea  of 
the  most  damnable  Heresies,  which  by  the  way  is  a  damnable  Toleration,  and 
worse  than  the  worst  persecution  that  ever  was  in  the  world ;  for  that  only 
destroyed  men's  bodies,  but  these  destroy  body  and  soul  in  Hell  for  ever, 
which  is  damnable  with  a  vengeance  and  will  make  the  last  State  of  poor 
America  worse  than  the  first,  if  not  timely  prevented.  Is  it  not  strange,  that 
so  many  islands  should  be  inhabited  with  Protestants,  so  many  provinces 
planted  by  them — so  many  hundred  thousand  souls  born  and  bred  up  herein 
America ;  but  of  all  the  Kings,  Princes  and  Governours,  all  the  Bishops  and 
Archbishops  which  have  been  since  the  Reformation,  they  never  sent  out  any- 
body here  to  propagate  the  Gospel  ?  I  say  to  propagate  it  by  imparting  some 
spiritual  gift  by  ordination  or  confirmation.  I  thought  the  Society  had  set  up 
to  supply  these  wants,  and  to  take  of!  this  horrible  scandal  from  the  Protestant 
Churches,  but  truly  they  would  not  hear  of  it  till  they  had  lost  their  best  mis- 
sionaries (may  lose  all  the  rest  for  ought  I  know  before  it  be  legally  obtained). 
What !  is  there  a  law  against  the  Gospel?  Let  it  be  taken  out  of  the  way  as 
Popish  and  Antichristian  ;  we  can't  Baptize  anybody  hardly  now  for  want  of 
God  fathers  and  God  mothers,  for  who  will  be  bound  where  they  are  not  like 
to  be  discharged  ?  I  can't  get  children  here  to  be  catechised,  for  they  are 
ashamed  of  anything  that  is  good,  for  want  of  school  masters  to  teach  them 
better.  There  is  one  Mr.  Humphreys  come  over  with  my  Lord  Lovelace, 
I  suppose  not  unknown  to  you  by  Mr.  Congreve ;  he  is  a  pretty  sober  young 
man  and  graduate  of  Dublin  college ;  I  have  got  him  £20  subscribed,  but  that 
is  not  enough  for  one  that  has  a  family.  If  the  Society  please  to  add  so 
much  to  it  as  they  think  fit,  it  will  be  as  good  a  work  as  they  can  do.  Mr. 
Evans  liked  him  so  well  that  he  would  have  had  him  for  a  free  school  at  Phil- 
adelphia, but  that  wanderer  Mr.  Ross,  has  got  in  there  I  believe  by  this  time, 
for  they  would  not  be  quiet  till  they  got  poor  Mr.  Chub  to  resign.  I  pity 
Mr.  Jenkin's  case,  and  I  hope  the  society  will  restore  him,  for  he  is  young 
enough  to  move  pity  and  to  amend  ;  or  if  he  cannot  live  there,  let  him  be  Iti- 
nerant in  this  province  and  I  will  help  him  what  I  can ;  the  churches  in  east 
Jersey  are  falling  to  the  ground  for  lack  of  looking  after,  I  can't  go  there  above 


Keith  and  Talbot.  63 


once  or  twice  a  year  to  administer  the  Holy  Sacrament  that  they  be  not  quite 
starved      It  had  been  better  not  to  have  put  these  poor  people  to  the  charge 
of  buildincr  churches,  than  have  nobody  to  supply  them  I  cant  get  so  much 
as  a  Reader  here  for  any  of  them,  and  it  were  to  save  their  souls      You  that 
live  at  home  in  ease  and  plenty,  little  do  you  know  what  they  and  we  do  bear 
and  suffer  here,  and  how  many  thousand  souls  are  legally  lost  whilst  they  at 
home  are  legally  supplying  them.     Who  will  answer  it  to  Jesus  Christ  who 
S  require  an  account  of  us  all,  and  that  very  speedily  too,  meanwhile  He  has 
chared  all  to  take  care  of  his  flock  not  by  constraint  but  willingly,  not  for 
filthy  Lucre  but  of  a  ready  mind  ;  then  they  who  don't  care  whether  they  go  to 
Heaven  or  Hell  will  have  no  reward  for  that  moderation.   I  find  in  your  books 
that  one  Mr.  Sergt.  Hooke  is  willing  to  give  the  tenth  of  his  Land  to  the 
Church  at  Hopewell ;  pray  let  him  send  me  a  power  and  I  will  take  care  ot 
it  and  cret  him  a  purchaser  for  the  rest.     I  have  got  possession  of  the  best 
house  in  America  for  a  Bishop's  seat;  the  Archbishop  told  me  he  would  con- 
tribute towards  it  and  so  I  hope  will  others ;  pray  let  me  know  your  mind  in 
this  matter,  as  soon  as  may  be,  for  if  they  slip  this  opportunity,  there  is  not 
such  another  to  be  had.     Our  church  here  does  flourish,  God  be  praised,  and 
the  town  too  is  much  more  populous  than  it  was;  I  hope  we  shall  soon  be 
out  of  Debt,  meanwhile  I  take  nothing  of  them,  there  is  my  moderation  ; 
besides  I  bless  God,  I  have  kept  the  peace  where  nobody  else  did  or  could, 
and  that  is  no  sign  of  immoderation  :  now  I  have  shown  you  my  moderation 
by  my  works,  pray  show  me  yours  that  I  may  learn  more  how  to  approve 

myself  as  I  ought. 

"Yours  &c. 

"Johx  Talbot. 

"  Pray  for  God's  sake  send  us  some  books  of  assorts,  especially  Common 
Prayer  books. 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"  Burlington,  27th  September,  1709. 


"  Sir  : 


«  Though  I  have  sent  you  several  letters  of  late,  yet  I  can't 
omit  so  good  an  opportunity  as  this  by  Mr.  Hamilton  of  giving  my  duty  and 
service  to  the  Honorable  Society  ;  my  comfort  is  I  have  always  told  them  tne 
truth  both  at  home  and  abroad,  though  I  was  not  believed  till  it  was  too  late. 
When  I  reflect  on  the  progress  of  the  Gospel  (I  will  not  say  the  Church  tor  we 
never  had  it  here,  nor  never  shall  till  there  comes  over  a  propagator  to  plant 
and  to  build  it  up)  a  cloud  of  melancholy  thoughts  throngs  upon  me  ;  lor  when 
the  Shepherds  are  smitten  the  sheep  of  the  flock  must  need  be  scattered 
abroad.  Mr.  Moore,  Mr.  Brooks,  Mr.  Muirson,  Mr.  Reedman,  Mr.  Jenkins, 
Mr  Urquhart,  all  worthy  men,  dead  in  less  than  two  years,  and  almost  all  tne 
rest  run  away,  as  Black,  Crawford,  Nichols  ;  Ross  is  a  wandering  star,  we  do 
not  know  where  he  will  fix ;  meanwhile  he  does  not  well  to  supplant  and  under- 


J 


64  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

mine,  let  him  be  confined  to  some  place  where  there  is  need,  and  not  stay 
altogether  m  the  town  to  do  more  hurt  than  good ;  there's  Mr.  Evans,  Mr. 
Ross,  and  Mr.  Chub  all  at  Philadelphia,  and  none  else  in  that  Province,  where 
the  Society  have  sent  most ;  at  Chester  there's  none,  at  New  Castle  none,  at 
Appoquitnony  none,  at  Dover  hundred  none,  at  the  whorekills  none,  and  the 
people  in  all  these  places  so  abated  of  their  zeal,  that  I'm  sure  it  had  been 
much  better  to  have  sent  none  at  all,  than  none  to  supply  the  death  and 
absence  of  these  men.      Here  is  not  one  come  to  supply  the  loss  of  these  10 
missionaries,  and  if  there  does  come  any  what  will  they  do  but  find  great  dis- 
couragements, and  the  last  state  of  their  several  places  worse  than  the  first; 
wherefore  my  advice  is,  with  humble  submission  to  my  superiors,  to  keep 
then-  money  and  g'ive  us  leave  to  come  home,  and  send  no  more  till  they 
think  fit  to  send  a  propagator  of  the  Gospel  ;  for  otherwise  their  planting 
the  Gospel  is  like  the  Indians  planting  gunpowder,  which  can  never  take  root, 
but  is  blown  away  by  every  wind.     Poor  brother  Jenkins  was  baited  to  death 
with  musqmtoes,  and  blood  thirsty  Gal-Knippers*  which  would  not  let  him  rest 
night  nor  day,  'till  he  got  a  fever  at  Appoquimony,  came  to  Philadelphia,  and 
died  immediately  of  a  Calenture  ;  my  brother  Evans  and  I  buried  him  as  well 
as  we  could,  it  cost  us  above  £20  for,  poor  man  !  he  had  nothing,  being  out  of 
Quantum  with  the  Society,  and  his   bills  protested.     If  you  please  to  call 
to  mind,  I  told  the  Society  when  I  was  there,  that  those  places  must  be  served 
by  itinerants,  and  that  it  is  hardly  possible  for  anybody  to  abide  there,  that  is 
not  born  there,  'till  he  is  musquito  proof;  those  little  things  are  a  great  plague 
m  some  parts,  and  when  a  man  is  persecuted  in  one  place  he  should  have 
leave  to  go  to  another,  or  else,  he  has  very  hard  measure,  especially  in  these 
parts  where  our  life  is  a  kind  of  Penance  both  winter  and  summer,  and  nobody 
can  tell  which  is  the  worst,  the  extreme  heat  or  cold.     I  hear  Mr.  Vaughan  is 
arrived  at  Boston,  but  is  not  yet  come  into  this  province,  he  will  have  enough 
to  do  to  supply  Mr.  Brook's  charge  at  Elizabeth  Town,  Amboy,  Piscataway, 
who  have  had  none  since  he  left  them;  but  I  have  done  for  them,  may  be 
once  in  a  quarter  or  so ;  somebody  occasionally  passing  by  that  way,  but  poor 
Hopewell  has  built  a  Church  and  have  had  no  minister  yet ;  and  he  had  need 
be  a  good  one  that  comes  after  Mr.  Moore ;  there  be  many  more  in  England 
but  none  so  good  as  to  come  over  and  help  us,  that  I  can  see  or  hear  of.     As 
for  the  account  of  what  Indians  we  have  converted,  truly  I  never  saw  nor    i 
knew  any  that  were  Christians  indeed  ;  but  I  know  there  are  hundreds,  yea 
thousands  of  our  white  folks,  that  are  turned  Infidels  for  want  of  looking  after 
Let  them  that  have  the  watch  look  out  and  see  what  they  will  answer  •  for  he 
that  is  higher  than  the  highest  regards.      I  have   received   nothing  from 
the  people  in  this  province,  nor  will  not  till  they  be  out  of  debt  for  building    ' 
the  church.     I  leave  honest  Mr.  Hamilton  to  give  you  a  farther  account 
ot  our  attains,  and  how  we  do ;  he  has  been  one  of  our  benefactors  and  given 
us  ±10.     I  hope  when  he  returns,  the  Society  will  be  so  kind  as  to  send 
us  some  Common  Prayer  books  which  we  very  much  want  here  and  at  Hope- 
well,  Maidenhead,  and  everywhere.      I  pray  God  direct  and  prosper  the 
designs  of  the  sacred  Society,  that  Religion  and  learning,  piety  and  virtue,  may 
be  established  among  us  for  all  generations  :  so  I  rest  sir, 

"Your's&c.  "John  Talbot. 

*  Ganni-nippers,  a  large  species  of  musquito. 


Keith  and   Talbot.  65 

"I  hope  you  will  put  the  Society  in  mind  of  what  we  have  often  desired, 
a  school  master,  for  there  is  none  in  Town  nor  in  all  the  province  that  is 
good  ;  and  without,  we  can't  instruct  the  children  as  they  ought  to  be  in  the 
Catechism,  for  they  will  not  be  brought  to  say  it  in  the  Church  till  they 
have  been  taught  at  school. " 


Messrs.  Evans  and  Talbot  to  the  Society. 

"  Burlington,  December  4th,  1712. 

"  Right  Reverend  and  Right  Hon.  Sirs  : 

"  It  is  with  the  greatest  satisfaction  that  we  received  from  our 
brother  Henderson  the  account  of  your  zeal,  care  and  diligence  in  relation  to 
the  Church  at  Jamaica;  your  favourable  reception  of  the  memorial  we 
sio-ned  with  the  rest  of  our  brethren  on  that  account  will  encourage  us  to  use 
the  utmost  of  our  efforts  for  the  interest  of  the  Church,  though  for  our  reward 
here,  we  expect  little  other  than  what  the  effects  of  the  malice  and  rage  of 
the  Church's  enemies  will  afford  us.  In  these  parts  of  the  world  the  great 
enemy  of  mankind  hath  fov  many  hundred  years  ruled  with  an  uninter- 
rupted sway,  and  we  are  sensible  that  he  doth  and  will  use  all  the^  means 
possible  to  hinder  and  discourage  the  Missionaries,  whose  business  it  is  to 
promulgate  the  Gospel,  and  by  that  means  to  deliver  his  Captives  from  the 
greatest  slavery  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  Sons  of  God.  Our  Great 
Master  hath,  in  these  parts,  raised  us  up  some  faithful  friends  of  all  ranks 
who  are  zealously  affected  both  to  us  and  the  work  we  are  engaged  in,  and 
nothing  now  seems  more  wanting  to  establish  the  Church,  in  a  flourishing- 
state,  than  the  residing  of  a  Bishop  amongst  us  in  these  parts ;  which  we  are 
in  hopes  it  will  not  be  long  before  we  are  blessed  with,  since  we  are  informed 
the  Honorable  Society  have  closed  the  bargain  for  the  house  at  the  point,  and 
directed  the  fitting  it  up  for  the  reception  of  a  Bishop.  We  are  sorry  any 
accident  should  have  altered  so  charitable  and  good  a  design,  and  therefore  you 
may  imagine  it  was  with  no  little  concern  that  we  beheld  the  damage  done 
by  fire,  on  one  part  of  the  house,  since  the  closing  of  the  bargain  (though 
before  any  possession  was  given  to  any  person  on  account  of  the  Society). 
On  the  23d  October,  in  the  afternoon,  by  the  foulness  of  the  chimney  and 
carelessness  of  one  Stiles,  who  kept  possession  for  Mr.  Tatham,  the  fire  took  on 
the  top  of  the  Roof,  but  by  the  industry  and  care  of  all  sorts  of  people  was 
extinguished  with  the  loss  of  part  of  the  Roof  of  that  part  of  the  house  that 
heth  next  the  Town,  and  little  other  damage.  His  Excellency  the  Governor, 
by  his  letter  to  Mr.  Talbot  of  the  3d  November,  1712,  hath  directed  him  to 
repair  the  house  and  make  it  habitable  for  a  Bishop;  which  since  it  could 
not  be  done  this  winter,  as  your  Honours  may  see  by  the  enclosed  certificate, 
we  thought  it  more  advisable  to  acquaint  the  Society  thereof,  as  also  our 
opinion  Ihat  it  would  be  less  chargeable  and  more  certain,  if  the  Society 
would  please  to  give  order  to  some  person  in  this  Town  to  manage  that  work, 
and  believe  Mr.  Secretary  Bass  hath  already  (without  any  directions)  taken 


66  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

care  to  provide  some  things  necessary  for  the  covering  the  House  and  fencing 
the  Garden,  &c,  and  whose  zeal  for  the  interests  of  the  Church,  and  particu- 
larly for  the  coming  over  of  a  Bishop,  we  believe  is  not  unknown  to  the 
Honorable  Society,  if  his  letters  of  the  22d  May,  1711,  with  the  enclosed 
papers,  were  communicated  to  the  Society.  We  herewith  send  the  Honora- 
ble Society  the  carpenter's  opinion  about  the  repairs,  and  believe  that  the 
sending  Glass,  Sheet  Lead,  Nails,  &c,  from  England  would  be  both  better 
and  cheaper  than  to  purchase  them  here.  We  earnestly  pray  for  a  blessing 
on  your  pious  endeavours  for  the  Glory  of  God  and  good  of  his  Church,  and 
remain  with  all  imaginable  deference, 

"  Right  Reverend  and  Right  Honorable, 
"  Your  most  obedient  and  faithful 
"  Humble  Servants, 

"Evan  Evans. 

"John  Talbot." 


Mr.  Talbot  to'Jhe  Secretary 

"  Burlington,  October  28th,  1714. 

"  Sir  : 

"  \  sent  a  letter  by  Mr.  Evans,  wherein  I  desired  leave  of  the 
Honorable  Society  to  come  home.  I  have  been  long  enough  in  these  parts 
to  see  iniquity  established  by  law,  and  that  by  some  of  your  own  members, 
and  what  good  can  your  Missionaries  dq  ?  I  have  been  sick  a  long  time  this 
fall  with  a  burning  fever,  which  made  me  so  weak  that  I  could  scarce  speak. 
I  could  not  preach,  nor  read  prayers,  so  the  service  of  God  ceased.  In  all 
this  Province  of  West  New  Jersey  there  never  was  any  minister  of  Christ's 
Church  settled  but  myself.  I  have  built  three  Churches  since  I  came  here, 
but  have  nobody  to  keep  them,  nor  myself  neither.  We  have  had  a  very 
sickly  time  this  year ;  I  have  buried  more  than  in  ten  years  before ;  and 
many  Church  people  died  that  had  nobody  to  visit  them  when  sick,  nor  bury 
them  when  dead.  Let  them  that  have  the  watch  look  out,  'tis  they  must 
give  account ;  I  am  clear  of  the  blood  of  all  men,  abroad  and  at  home,  and 
so  I  hope  to  keep  myself.  The  Society  were  once  upon  a  good  resolution  to 
send  Deacons  to  be  School  Masters ;  if  they  had  done  so  to  Burlington,  to 
Bristol,  to  Hopewell,  they  might  have  kept  the  Church  doors  open,  for  they 
could  read  the  Prayers  and  Homilies,  Baptize  and  Catechize,  they  could  visit 
the  sick  and  bury  the  dead  ;  but  now  they  must  bury  one  another;  they  have 
no  where  to  go  but  to  Quakers'  meetings,  which  are  as  bad  as  Indians' ; 
there's  nothing  but  powawing  and  conjuring  to  raise  a  Devil  they  cannot  lay 
again ;  and  now  that  this  wickedness  is  established  by  law,  what  should  we 
do  here  any  longer?  They  do  declare  in  the  presence  of  God  Almighty, 
they  don't  swear,  call  him  to  witness  all  they  say  is  no  more  than  yea  or 
nay. 

"  The  Church  at  New  Bristol,  over  against  Burlington,  was  opened  about 
St.  James'  day,  and  so  called  St.  James'  Church,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Philips, 


Keith  and  Talbot.  67 

who  preached  the  first  sermon.  The  Church  was  full  of  people  from  all 
parts,  who  were  liberal  contributors  to  it.  I  went  now  and  then  to  preach 
there  on  Sundays  in  the  afternoon  before  I  was  sick,  but  since  that  I  have 
not  been  able,  so  the  Church  has  been  shut  up,  almost  ever  since  it  was 
opened  The  Church  at  Hopewell  has  been  built  these  ten  or  twelve  years, 
and  never  had  a  minister  settled  there  yet,  though  they  have  sent  several 
Petitions  and  Addresses  to  the  Society ;  but  I  understand  since,  that  Hope- 
well, Maidenhead,  &c,  were  kept  under  the  thumb  for  Cotton  Mather  and 
the  'rest  of  the  New  England  Doctors  to  send  their  emissaries  ;  and  those 
hirelings  have  often  come  there,  and  as  often  run  away,  because  they  were 
hirelings  and  cared  for  no  souls  but  themselves. 

"As°for  the  Church  at  New  Bristol,  it  was  first;  begun  by  the  zealous 
Thorowo-ood  Moore,  of  pious  memory  ;  and  when  he  was  taken  away  by  this 
same  cursed  faction  that  is  now  rampant,  I  was  unwilling  any  of  his  good 
works  should  fall  to  the  ground,  so  I  crossed  the  water  at  my  own  cost  to  serve 
those  poor  people,  who  lived  in  Darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death,  m  the 
midst  of  Heathenism,  Atheism,  and  Quakerism ;  but  it  pleased  God  by  our 
preachino-  the  word  in  season  and  out  of  season,  some  came  to  believe  and 
were  baptized,  they  and  their  children,  and  two  of  the  Chief  people  there, 
Mr.  John  Rowland  and  Mr.  Anthony  Burton,  were  willing  to  undertake  to 
build  a  Church,  which  since  they  have  done,  and  I  believe  they  will  endow  it 
too  if  they  get  a  minister  .before  they  die.  I  gave  them  five  pounds  and  a 
pulpit  of  black  walnut,  which  cost  as  much  more,  to  encourage  them  ;  I 
promised  to  lay  their  case  before  the  pious  society,  that  they  may  take  some 
care  of  them,  that  they  be  not  a  reproach  to  the  heathenish  Quakers,  who 
are  too  apt  to  reflect  upon  us,  '  where  is  your  Priest,  where  is  your  Minister, 
and  where  is  your  Church,  it  may  serve  us  for  a  meeting  house,  &c.  Fudet 
hac  opprobria  nobis  did  potuisse  et  non  potuisse  repelli. 

"But  the  History  of  the  Church  at  Burlington,  &c,  has  been  so  much 
better  done  by  Colonel  Jeremiah  Bass,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  this  Province  and 
transmitted  home,  by  the  hands  of  the  Honorable  General  Nicholson,  that  1 
need  say  no  more  at  present,  but  desire  the  prayers  and  blessing  of  the 
venerable  Society  for  their 

"  Most  humble  and  faithful  Missionary 
"  And  servant, 

"John  Talbot." 


History  of  the  Church  at  Burlington,  Nero  Jersey,  by  Jeremiah  Bass,  Esq., 
delivered  by  General  Nicholson. 

[Mr.  Bass  was  her  Majesty's  Secretary  of  the  Province  of  Jersey.] 

SOLI  DEO  GLORIA. 

"After  a  long  season  of  Ignorance,  Superstition,  and  Idolatry  had  covered 
this  Province,  it  pleased  that  Infinite  Being  whose  goodness  is  over  all  Ins 


68  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

works,  and  who  hath  promised  to  give  unto  our  Blessed  Saviour,  the  Imma- 
culate Jesus,  the  Heathen  for  his  inheritance,  and  the  utmost  parts  of  the 
Earth  for  his  possession,  to  illuminate  these  Provinces  with  some  Rays  of  his 
Glory  and  Goodness,  by  sending  the  glorious  light  of  the  Gospel  amongst  us. 
The  first  European  inhabitants  of  this  River  were  the  subjects  of  the  King  of 
Sweden,  who  in  their  first  settlement  in  this  River,  brought  with  them  the 
Religion  of  their  country,  in  which,  to  their  commendation,  and  the  care  of 
their  Missionaries,  they  have  yet  continued  ;  few  of  them  having  at  any 
time  from  their  first  settlement  to  this  day,  apostatized  from  their  Christian 
faith,  to  the  envy  of  Quakerism. 

"The  next  Inhabitants  were  the  Dutch,  who  having  taken  the  River  from 
the  Swedes,  introduced  their  Laws,  Government,  and  Religion,  which  again 
suffered  an  alteration,  by  the  coming  in  and  conquest  of  these  parts  by  the 
English,  who  in  their  first  settlement  of  this  Province,  seemed  to  mind  more 
the  business  of  their  Trade  and  Plantation,  than  that  great  concern  of  their 
souls.  There  being  in  the  Western  Division,  no  settled  Society  or  Congrega- 
tion of  any  of  the  Church,  or  any  Dissenters,  except  Quakers  ;  and  although 
some  Reverend  Divines,  as  they  occasionally  passed  through  this  Province, 
preached  the  Gospel  and  administered  the  ordinance  of  Baptism  to  some  few 
persons,  and  by  that  means  sowed  the  seeds  of  the  Gospel,  that  have  since 
sprung  up  around  us,  and  excited  the  desires  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  to 
make  a  more  diligent  enquiry  into  the  true  way  of  worshipping  God,  and 
had  in  some  measure  taken  off  those  prejudices  that  most  of  the  inhabitants 
laboured  under,  by  education,  example  and  reading  the  Books  and  hearing 
the  discourses  of  such  as  had  misrepresented  both  the  Doctrine  and  Discipline 
of  the  Church  of  England ;  yet  we  cannot  properly  begin  any  History  of  the 
Church  but  from  the  arrival  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Edward  Portlock,  who  at 
the  desire  of  several  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  this 
Province,  came  over,  ordained  by  the  Right  Reverend  Henry,  Lord  Bishop  of 
London,  to  take  the  care  and  cure  of  souls,  as  rector  of  a  Church,  to  be 
built  at  Perth-Amboy,  the  metropolis  of  the  Eastern  Divison  of  this  Province, 
who  arrived  in  this  Province,  and  made  his  application  to  the  Governor,  for 

the  Proprietor,  in  the  year ;  who  with  the  consent  and  approbation  of 

the  Agents,  for  the  Proprietors,  called  the  Council  of  Proprietors,  set  apart 
one  of  the  Houses  (that  had  been  formerly  built  at  the  charge  of  the  general 
Proprietors)  for  the  peculiar  service  and  worship  of  God,  according  to  the 
Laws  of  England,  which  House,  by  the  Contribution  of  several  pious  and 
well-disposed  persons,  was  soon  covered,  and  glazed,  and  fitted  with  seats  and 
a  Pulpit,  and  Mr.  Portlock  put  into  possession  of  the  same,  (which  by  the 
way  is  the  only  Church  they  have  to  this  day  at  Perth-Amboy) ;  in  the 
interim,  Mr.  Portlock  preached  sometimes  at  the  Governor's  House,  some- 
times at  a  House  belonging  to  Mr.  Dockaray  of  London,  merchant,  sometimes 
in  the  neighbouring  Towns  of  Woodbridge,  Piscataway,  Elizabeth  Town,  and 
when  the  Governor's  business  called  him  into  the  Western  Division,  accompa- 
nied him  to  Burlington,  where  the  Public  Town  House  was  allotted  him  for 
that  service.  This  good  work  was  at  the  same  time  carried  on  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Vesey,  in  the  Eastern  Division,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clayton,  Minister  of 
Christ  Church,  Philadelphia.  These  beginnings  of  Light,  which  through  the 
blessing  of  God  were  not  unsuccessful,  and  the  division  that  at  this5  time 


Keith  and  Talbot. 


happened   amongst  the    people   called   Quakers,   by  Mr    George  Keiths 
op  S  some  of  their  principal  errors,  occasioned  several  pons  and   well 
So    d  Christians  to  think  of  erecting  a  place  in   Bur mgton    peculiar  y 
Seated  and  set  apart  for  the  service  and  worship  of  God,  according  to  the 
usa-e  of  the  best  of  Churches,  the  Church  of  England;    who  were  herein 
much   encouraged  and  assisted  by  the  pious  discourses  and  sermons  of  the 
ST  Mr    Evan   Evans,   Rector   of    Christ   Church    in   Philadelphia    who 
frequently  came  over  into  this  Province,  preached  and  baptized  both  Infants 
and  Adult  persons,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Talbot,  our  worthy  Minister,  a 
Missionary  of  the  Honorable  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foeo-n  Parts;    this  good  work  was  very  much  forwarded  by  the  generous 
contribution  of  his  Excellency  Francis  Nicholson,  Esq.,  then  Governor  of 
vTAnia,  who  we  must  own  to  be  our  first  and  best  Benefactor,  and  indeed 
he  gave  life  and  motion  to  the  whole  work,  by  a  generous  contribution  of 
near  £50,  to  be  laid  out  towards  that  service;  and  since,  I  have  the  just 
oc  Lion  to  mention  that  worthy  patron  of  our  Churches  (in  whose  commen- 
dation on  this  score  too  much  can  hardly  be  said).     I  may  be  therefore  bold 
fn  affirming  that  no  Church  in  these  parts  hath  wanted  assistance  towards 
its  foundation,  reparation,  or  beautifying  but  hath  on  application  tasted  of  his 
bountv;    no  Missionaries  or  Ministers,  that  have  had  the  happiness  of  his 
acquaintance,  have  parted  from  him  without  some  mark  of  his  favour;  nor 
no  d  vout  and  pious' member,  in  any  exigency  or  distress,  has  applied  to  him 
for  relief  or  support  in  vain.     On  this  encouragement  and  the  assistance  of 
some  considerable  benefactions  of  £50,  from  the  members  of  the  Church  at 
Philadelphia;    £12    10s.   from   the   Rev.  Mr.    Myles   at   Boston    and   the 
fourteous    care    and   diligence   of    Mr.    Robert    Wheeler,    of    Burlington, 
merchant,  since  deceased,  (who  has  sometimes  been  in  advance  above  ±150 
Si   of  hi     own  pocket),  and  the  contributions  of  several  other  persons,  who 
thouoh  not   particularly  mentioned,  will   be   rewarded   by  Him,  who  has 
promised  a  reward  for  a  Cup  of  Cold  Water,  given  to  a  Disciple,  in  the  name 

°f  ^TheChurch  of  St.  Mary  in  Burlington,  in  the  Western  Division  of  the 
Province  of  New  Jersey,  had  the  foundation  stone  laid  by  the  Rev.  John 
Talbot,  Missionary  from  "the  Honorable  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel,  on 
the  25th  day  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1703  ;_  being  a  day  sacred 
to  the  memory  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Conception  of  our  Blessed 
Saviour  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  which  gave  name  to  the  Church.  1 his 
beginning  was  carried  on  with  that  Industry  and  Diligence,  chiefly  b  he 
said  Mr.  Wheeler,  that  it  was  inclosed,  covered,  ceiled  and  glazed  and  the 
Holv  Sacrament  administered  therein,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Talbot,  on 
Whitsunday,  the  4th  of  June,  1704;  the  Divine  Service  having  been  read 
and  Sermons  preached  in  the  said  Church  ever  since  the  22d  of  August ,  in 
the  preceding  year,  1703.  Thus  the  work  of  God  and  his  Chu.ch  was 
carried  on  amongst  us,  with  great  alacrity.  The  Burying  ground  purchased 
for  the  Church,  containing  in  all  about  three  acres,  being  well  fenced  m,  ana 
Pews  and  Seats  in  the  Church,  the  members  began  to  think  it  convenient  to 
form  themselves  into  a  regular  Society,  according  to  the  Law  and  Customs  ot 
England,  and  therefore  addressed  themselves  by  Petition  to  his  Excellency, 
Edward,  Lord  Cornbury,  (since  Earl  of  Clarendon),  Her  Majesty  s  Governor 


?0  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

of  this  Province,  and  a  real  friend  of  our  Church,  who  on  the  4th  October, 
1704,  granted  his  Warrant  for  a  Patent  to  Incorporate  them,  under  his  Privy 
Seal,  with  all  requisite  and  necessary  powers  for  their  encouragement  and 
support.     The  Church  thus  settled,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  John 
I  Talbot,  through  the  Blessing  of  God,  on  his  ministry,  grew  and  increased  so 
that  we  had  subscriptions  made,  and  the  foundation  laid,  for  a  Church  at 
Hopewell,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  County  of  Burlington,  which  hath  been 
since  finished,  which  was  for  some  time  supplied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  May,  but  is 
now  without  _  any  minister.     We  had  another  begun  at  Salem,  which  by  some 
unhappy  accidents,  hath  been  since  discontinued,  though  not  without  some 
hopes  of  being  revived,  when  it  shall  please  God  to  send  some  one  amongst 
us,  that  careth  for  the  welfare,  and  seeketh  the  good  of  the  Churches ;   to 
both  of  which  Churches  we  find  his  Excellency,  Colonel  Nicholson,  one  of 
the  first  and  chiefest  Benefactors ;  and  here  I  cannot  omit  mentioning  the 
Honorable  Colonel  Cox,  then  one  of  Her  Majesty's  Council  for  this  Province, 
who  was  one  of  the  first  subscribers  to  our  Church  at  Burlington,  and  has 
given  the  like  assistance  to  that  at  Hopewell,  together  with  the  assurance  of 
settling  200  acres  of  Land,  out  of  the  nighest  and  most  convenient  part  of 
his  Land,  contiguous  to  the  said  Church,  for  a  glebe  for  the  Minister,  when- 
ever it  shall  please   God  a  missionary  be  sent  over,  to  take  care  of  that 
Church,  or  sooner  if  it  be  desired.     I  might  also  mention  the  Churches  of 
Chester,  New   Castle,  Dover  River,  Apoquiraony,  Oxford,  and  Bristol,  that 
about  the   time,  were  either  begun  or  finished;   but  designing  to  confine 
myself  to  Burlington  only,  I  purposely  omit  any  particulars  of  them.     Our 
Reverend  Minister's  affairs  calling  him  for  England,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1705,  he  appointed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thorowgood  Moore  to  serve  the  Church  in 
his  room,  a  person  of  morals,  exemplary  meekness,  piety  and  charity.     Our 
Vestry  thought  it  their  duty,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Talbot,  to  send  home  Addresses 
to  Her  Majesty,  and  a  Letter  of  Thanks  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
the  Bishop  of  London,  and  the  Honorable  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel,  which  are  too  large  to  be  inserted  in  this  Essay.     Our  Church 
for  some  time  found  no  considerable  alterations  by  the  absence  of  our  worthy 
Rector;  but  that  enemy  of  our  happiness,  who  had  been  many  times  hereto- 
fore sowing  the  seeds  of  Division  and  Dissension  amongst  us,  (which  through 
the  care  and  prudence  of  our  Rector,  were  not  suffered  to  grow  and  increase) 
took  advantage  of  his  absence,  and  stirred  up  such  a  flame,  that  had  almost 
broken  us  to  pieces,  and  occasioned  the  unhappy  removal  both  of  Mr.  Moore 
and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brooks,  Rector  of  the  Church  in  Elizabeth  Town,  (erected 
chiefly  by  the  care  and  diligence  of  Colonel  Richard  Townly,  who  has  given 
the  ground  it  stands  on,  and  a  place  for  a  Burying  Ground,)  who  have  not 
been  heard  of  since  their  departure  from  Marble-Head,  in  the  year  1707. 
But  I  willingly  pass  over  this  subject,  too  sad  to  be  insisted  on,  charitably 
hoping  that  all  who  were  any  ways  the  unhappy  authors  of  it,  have  since 
blotted  out  their  sins  by  repentance,  and  I  have  good  cause  to  believe  that 
had  we  been  so  happy,  to  have  enjoyed  an  Ecclesiastical  Governor,  to  have 
dispensed  the  censures  of  the  Church,  and  to  have  determined  differences, 
that  will  sometimes  unavoidably  occur,  betwixt  Ministers  and  Members,  and 
betwixt  Ministers  and  the  People,  this  mischief  bad  been  prevented  or  cured  ; 
it  is  no  wonder  if  our  Communicants  grew  remiss  and  slack  in  their  duty,  if 


Keith  and  Talbot.  ^ 

too  many  fell  away  in  scandalous  sins  of  schism,  if  error  and  heresy  increased 
KS  were  both  taken  and  given  (as  there  were  in  tins  case),  when  the 
Ecclesiastical  sword  was  wanting,  to  punish  evil-doers,  to  "-g^^Jj 
reduce  the  erring,  and  to  cut  off  the  obstinate  and  heretics     By  this  unhappy 
If  our  Sector,  who  was  then  in  England   and  of  Mr.  Moore  who  was 
crone  from   us,  the  number  of  our  Communicants,  and  the  Interest  of   our 
Church  sensibly  decreased,  but  began  again  to  revive  on  the  return  of  our 
Reverend  Rector  in  the  year  1708,  who  acquainted  us  that  he  had  presented 
^humble  Iddress  to  Lr  Majesty,  and  the  other  Letters  that  we  „d 
that  Her  Majesty  had  been  graciously  pleased  to  give  us  Lead   and  Glass 
and  Pulpit  C  oth,  and  Altar  Cloth,  and  a  Silver  Chalice,  and  Salver  for  the 
Commu  lion  Table,  and  a  Brocade  Altar  Cloth  ;  and  that  she  had  also  sent 
LeT  and  Glass,  and  Pulpit  Cloths,  and  Altar  Cloths  for  the  Churches  of 
HoptS  and  SX,  which'  we  received  by  the  hands  0f  the  Honorable  Col. 
Robert  Quarry.     He  also  brought  us  an  Embossed  Silver  Cha  ice  and  Patten 
the  Aft  of  Madam  Catharine  Bovey,  of  Hacksley ;  for  all  which  our  Vestry 
returned  their  thanks  by  Addresses  and  Letters  of  the  6th  of  November, 

^"His  Excellency,  the  Lord  Cornbury,  being  succeeded  in  the  Government  of 
this  Province,  by  His  Excellency  the  Lord  Lovelace,  whose  Commission  was 
published  the  20th  of  December,  1708,  all  things  relating  to  the  Church  here, 
continued  much  at  a  stand,  His  Excellency  never  coming  so  far  as  Burlington 
nor  as  I  know  of,  having  ever  been  at  Church  in  this  Province,  whilst  he 
enjoyed  that  Government!    By  the  death  of  that  Nobleman,  m  the  year  1709 
the  Government  devolved  upon  Colonel  Richard  Ingoldsby  then  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  the  Provinces  of  New  Jersey  and  New  York,  under  whose ^ 
istration,    our   Vestry    (that  by  some :  unaccoun  able  neglect had omitted 
to  pass  the  charter  designed  for  us,  by  the  Earl  of  Clarendon)  gotit  now 
passed  under  the  Broad  Seal  of  this  Province,  whereby  they  became  mem po- 
rted  by  the  name  of  the  Minister,  Church-Wardens,  and  Vestry,  of  the 
Church  of  St.  Mary  in  Burlington;  which  was  enrolled  m  the  Secretary  s 
Office  the  25th   of  January  1709.      By  this  Charter    the  Rev    Mr.  John 
Talbot  Rector  Mr.  Robert  Wheeler,  and  Mr.  George  Mills,  Church-Warden  , 
Sd^L^Sel  Cox,  Lieut.  Col.  Huddy,  Alexander  ^^HerM^s 
Attorney  General,  Jeremiah  Bass,  Her  Majesty's  Secretary  of  this  Pro  mce 
and  sundry  others,  were  appointed,  constituted  and  made  a  Body  Co.  poi  ate 
and  Politic,  in  deed  and  in  name,  to  have  Community  and  succession  pe    e- 
tual,  with  powers  to  purchase,  take  and  receive  Lands,  &c,  in  fee  and  perpe- 
tuity, not  exceeding  £300  sterling  per  annum,  with  power  to  sue  and ^bes^d, 
implead  and  be  impleaded,  to  make  and  use  a  Common  Seal,  and  the  same, 
Salter  at  their  discretion/to  choose  New  Church-Wardens  and  Vestrymen 
as  there  shall  be  occasion,  with  many  other  powers  and  immunities,  tool»P 
to  be  here  inserted,  from  which  time  the  members  of  the  Corporation  met 
together  and  transacted  all  affairs,  relating  to  the  Church,  under  tha  seal  and 
title      And  here  I  cannot  forget  mentioning  the  Donation  ot   25U  Acres 
of  Land  gven  to  this  Church!  the  last  Will  of  Thomas  Leicester  deceased, 
which  by§this  Charter,  we  were  enabled  to  receive.     We  had  nothing  hap- 
pened of  any  great  note  to  us,  till  the  year  1711 ;  and  some  time  m  April  in 
that  year,  Ye  Church  received  the  gift  of  a  large  silver  Beaker,  with  a  cover, 


^2  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

well  engraved,  being  the  present  of  the  Honourable  Colonel  Robert  Quarry, 
for  the  use  of  the  Communion ;  in  the  same  month  the  minister,  Church- 
Wardens,  and  Vestry,  having  received  advice  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Evan  Evans, 
Rector  of  Christ  Church,  in  Philadelphia,  and  from  the  Vestry  there,  that  their 
Assembly  had  passed  an  act  directing  affirmation,  to  such,  who  for  conscience 
sake,_  cannot  take  an  oath,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  said  act,  and  duly  con- 
sidering with  themselves,  the  pernicious  tendency  of  such  proceedings  to  Reli- 
gion in  General,  and  to  the  best  of  Churches,  the  Church  of  England  in  par- 
ticular, they  thought  it  their  duty  to  give  as  public  a  testimony  as  they  could, 
of  their  just  detestation  and  abhorrence  of  such  principles  and  practices,  and 
in  order,  thereto,  at  their  meeting,  on  the  4th  of  April,  1711,  they  caused  the 
following  Resolves  to  be  entered  on  their  minutes  : 

'"Resolved  that  the  said  act  is  contrary  to,  and  destructive  of  the  Religious 
and  Civil  Liberty  of  Her  Majesty's  subjects,  and  contrary  to  the  Laws  of 
Great  Britain. 

Resolved  that  an  address  be  drawn  up  to  her  Majesty  against  giving  her 
Royal  Assent  to  the  said  act. 

"  '  Ordered  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Talbot,  the  Honourable  Col.  Daniel  Cox, 
Alexander  Griffith,  Esq.,  Her  Majesty's  Attorney-General,  and  Mr.  Secretary 
Bass,  do  draw  up  the  said  address.' 

"  According  to  these  Resolves,  an  Address  was  drawn,  signed  and  sent  home 
to  Her  Majesty,  together  with  others,  to  the  Right  Rev.  Henry,  Lord  Bishop 
of  London,  the  Right  Honourable,  the  Earl  of  Clarendon,  &c,  which  had  that 
good  effect  at  home  that  Her  Majesty  was  pleased  by  her  order  in  Council  to 
declare  her  disapprobation  of  that  act.  The  gentlemen  of  this  church,  were 
rather  induced  to  this,  in  that  they  had  just  cause  to  fear  that  the  same  ene- 
mies of  our  Church  that  had,  with  so  much  cunning  and  artifice,  obtained 
thatact,  in  the  neighbouring  Province,  would  be  restless  in  their  endeavors  to 
obtain  the  same  in  this  Province ;  and  indeed  the  party  of  the  same  sort 
of  men,  having  got  themselves  chosen  Representatives  of  the  People,  in 
this  Province,  in  conjunction  with  some  others,  who  in  this  too  much  betrayed 
the  interests  of  the  Church,  had  at  the  Sessions  of  the  Assembly,  in  this  Pro- 
vince, in  December,  January,  and  February,  1710,  obtained  a  Bill,  to  pass  the 
House  of  Representatives,  entitled  an  act  for  ascertaining  the  qualifications  of 
Jurors,  and  enabling  the  Quakers  to  serve  on  them,  and  to  enjoy  places  of 
profit  and  trust,  within  this  Province;  which  was  by  the  majority  of  the 
Council,  rejected  at  the  second  reading ;  who  in  this,  as  well  as  in  many  other 
mstances,_ showed  their  zeal  and  fidelity  to  the  Church,  and  its  interest  herein 
this  Province. 

"  The  Church,  all  this  while,  had  laboured  under  the  burden  of  a  Debt, 
contracted  by  several  of  its  members,  towards  the  building  and  finishing  the 
same,  which  occasioned  a  new  subscription  to  be  made,  which,  not  answering 
to  a  sufficient  sum  to  pay  the  Debt,  we  find  the  same  worthy  member,  Col. 
Coxe,  by  the  Donation  of  £25,  set  us  clear  of  that  incumbrance  we  were 
uneasy  under. 

"  Our  Church  now  began  to  have  thoughts  of  providing  something  in  this 
Town  like  a  Glebe,  for  the  Rector  of  our  Church,  for  the  time  being,  but 
were  almost  discouraged  by  our  paucity  and  poverty ;  but  Divine  Providence, 
that  never  faileth  those  that  confide  in  it,  afforded  us  an  unexpected  supply, 


Keith  and  Talbot.  V3 

by  means  wholly  unthought  of  by  us.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Frampton,  late  Bishop 
of  Gloucester,  having,  by  his  last  Will  and  Testament,  left  £100  sterling 
towards  propagating  the  Gospel  in  America,  at  the  sole  appointment  of  the 
Right  Rev.  Henry,  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  that  Worthy  and  Reverend 
Prelate,  at  the  instance  and  desire  of  Madam  Catharine  Bovey,  of  Hacksley, 
in  the  county  of  Gloucester,  our  worthy  Benefactress,  by  a  proper  Instrument, 
in  April,  before  he  died,  directed  the  money  to  be  paid  into  her  hands,  for 
purchasing  somewhat  in  America,  that  may  be  perpetual  to  the  Church  of  St. 
Mary's  in  Burlington ;  to  which  she  is  pleased  in  her  Letter  to  promise  an 
addition  of  her  own  to  complete  the  purchase.  This  sum  is  appropriated 
towards  the  payment  of  the  purchase  money,  for  a  convenient  House, 
Orchard,  and  about  Six  Acres  of  Land,  adjoining  to  the  Church,  in  the  town 
of  Burlington,  to  the  use  of  the  Rector  of  the  said  Church,  for  the  time 
beino-,  for  ever  ;  and  since  I  am  mentioning  these  small  Benefactors,  towards 
the  Church  here,  I  should  be  justly  charged  with  ingratitude  and  inad- 
vertency, if  I  had  not  remembered  that  act  of  generosity  in  the  Right 
Honorable  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  who 
have  not  only  constantly  supported  our  Reverend  Minister  with  a  salary  of 
£60  per  annum,  but  have,  at  the  expense  of  £600  sterling,  purchased  the 
House  formerly  built,  and  belonging  to  Mr.  Tatham,  with  fifteen  Acres  of 
Land,  and  twelve  Acres  of  Meadow,  for  the  use  of  a  Bishop,  when  it  shall 
please  God  to  send  one  hither,  and  have  since  repaired  the  same,  at  very 
great  additional  expense. 

"The  same  General  Assembly  that  had  not  sat  since  the  16th  of  July, 
1711,  after  many  repeated  prorogations,  at  last  met  his  Excellency,  Colonel 
Robert  Hunter,  Governor  of  this  Province,  on  the  8th  of  December,  1713, 
and  continued  their  Session  till  the  17  th  of  March  following,  in  which 
amongst  other  acts,  having  passed  an  Act,  '  That  the  Solemn  Affirmation  and 
Declaration  of  the  People,  called  Quakers,  shall  be  accepted  and  taken 
instead  of  an  Oath  in  the  usual  form,  and  for  qualifying  and  enabling  the 
said  people  to  serve  as  Jurors,  and  to  execute  any  office  or  place  of  trust 
or  profit  within  this  Province,"  the  Minister,  Church- Wardens,  and  Vestry, 
on  a  due  consideration  of  the  danger  the  Church  is  in,  by  the  increase  of 
Atheism,  Deism,  Socinianism,  Quakerism,  and  a  new  set  of  people  that  seem 
to  be  a  compendium  of  all  the  ancient  Heresies,  known  by  the  name  of  Free- 
thinkers, and  perceiving  this  Act  of  Assembly  to  give  too  great  encourage- 
ment to  these  Enemies  of  our  Church,  thought  it  their  duty  to  use  their 
strenuous  endeavours  to  obviate  those  apparent  mischiefs  ;  and,  therefore,  in 
an  humble  manner,  made  a  new  application  to  Her  Royal  Majesty,  (who  is 
not  only  Titular,  but  indeed  the  Defender  of  the  Church)  to  prevent  the 
giving  her  Royal  Assent  to  so  mischievous  an  Act ;  and  at  the  same  time 
addressed  the  Honourable  Society  for  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel,  for  their 
countenance  and  assistance,  to  all  which  they  are  in  hopes  of  a  gracious 
answer.  By  this  Act,  the  professed  enemies  of  the  Church,  being  made 
capable  to  be  admitted  into  all  offices  and  places  of  profit  and  trust,  it  is 
easy  to  perceive  how  hazardous  it  is  for  any  of  the  friends  of  the  Church  to 
appear  in  its  defence,  or  to  adventure  to  put  a  stop  to  this  foment  of  evil,  by 
the  most  regular  methods  of  addressing  against  it ;  since  some  persons,  not 
contented  with  liberty  of  conscience,  are  so  fond  of  licentiousness  in  Govern- 


74  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

ment,  that  they  will  leave  no  stone  unturned  to  obtain  their  darling  Idol. 
It  was  for  this  end  that  by  false  suggestions  and  calumnies,  several  of  the 
friends  and  favorites  of  the  interest  of  the  Church,  Gentlemen  of  some  of  the 
best  estates  in  the  Province,  were,  to  our  very  great  grief,  removed  from  being 
of  her  Majesty's  Council  and  their  places  filled  with  others,  that  have  been 
made  favorable  to  their  designs  and  interests ;  but  it  is  time  now  to  put  a 
period  to  this  Essay,  it  being  sometimes  more  dangerous  to  assert  Truth  than 
to  justify  Error.  In  a  word,  since  the  first  beginnings  of  any  Established 
Church  in  this  Province,  we  may  truly  say,  that  the  Church  never  was  in 
more  danger,  by  Enemies  from  without,  and  false  Brethren,  pretended 
Friends  amongst  us,  and  never  had  so  few  in  public  station  to  appear  in  her 
defence. 

I  have  only  to  add  in  obedience  to  your  Excellency's  commands,  the 
methods  in  which,  your  Excellency  m'ky  be  most  servicealbe  to  the  Church  ; 
your  long  acquaintance  with  the  interest  of  the  Church  in  these  parts  of  the 
world,  during  your  Excellency's  Administration  of  the  Government,  of  the 
Provinces  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  &c,  as  it  makes  you  a  very  good  judge  of 
all  propositions,  made  for  that  end,  so  it  might  have  been  a  very  good  reason 
for  me  to  avoid  any  such  attempt,  lest  I  should  too  much  expose  my  own 
weakness  ;  but  since  your  Excellency  is  pleased  to  declare  that  you  expect 
this  service  from  me,  I  hope  my  obedience  will  apologize  for  my  faults.  I 
cannot  but  think  the  sending  over  a  Bishop  amongst  us,  to  be  of  absolute 
necessity,  and  without  which,  all  other  attempts  and  methods  to  render  the 
Church  flourishing  in  these  parts  will  be  fruitless.  Without  government,  no 
society  or  number  of  men  can  long  be  cemented,  much  less  flourish  and 
increase;  without  the  censures  of  the  Church  are  duly  and  impartially 
administered  how  shall  either  virtue  be  encouraged,  or  vice  in  all  its  forms 
detected  and  punished  ?  The  authors  or  perpetrators  of  some  crimes  may  be 
too  great  for  the  Civil  government  to  take  hold  of  in  these  parts  of  the  world, 
that  might  soon  be  corrected  by  the  Ecclesiastical  Governor ;  we  need  such 
an  Ecclesiastical  Governor  that  dare  reprove  and  censure  any  that  infringe  the 
just  Laws  and  Constitution  of  the  Church  ;  let  us  have  such  a  Bishop  as 
St.  Ambrose,  and  we  shall  soon  have  such  Governors  as  Theodosius. 

I  would  also  humbly  propose  that  no  persons  be  admitted  into  the  Legisla- 
ture or  Executive  Power  of  Government,  but  such  as  are  in  the  Communion 
of  the  Church,  if  it  be  practicable  ;  if  in  some  places,  this  is  not  practicable, 
let  them  be  such  at  least  as  are  under  the  sacred  tie  and  obligation  of  an 
oath ;  and,  that  our  youth  may  not  be  tainted  with  erroneous  principles,  in 
their  tender  years,  that  no  schools  be  permitted  for  the  Education  of  youth, 
but  such  as  are  Licensed  by  the  Governor's  Instructions,  that  none  be 
licensed  but  such  as  have  a  Certificate  of  their  Sufficiency,  Ability,  and 
Sobriety,  from  the  Minister  and  Church-Wardens  of  the  place,  where  they 
last  resided,  or  if  no  Minister  thereof,  four  of  the  soberest  and  most  substantial 
Inhabitants.  That  all  endeavours  be  used  for  a  legal,  regular,  and  honorable 
support  of  an  orthodox  Clergy. 

That  no  Laws  be  passed  by  the  Governor  and  Council,  that  in  any  way 
intrench  on  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  Church ;  or  if  any  such  inadvertency 
should  be  passed,  that  they  be  of  no  force,  until  they  have  received  Her 
Majesty's  Royal  approbation  ;  that  the  Laws  that  enjoin  all  persons  to  frequent 


Keith  and  Talbot.  V5 

some  public  place  of  Worship  every  Lord's  day,  and  all  Laws  for  suppressing 
of  Immorality  and  profaneness  be  duly  and  impartially  executed. 

"  That  all  the  Clergy  be  encouraged  to  put  all  the  Ecclesiastic  Laws  and 
Canons  that  relate  to  scandalous  offenders,  into  execution,  without  any  respect 
of  persons  whatsoever. 

"  All  which  are  hereby  submitted  to  your  Excellency's  judgment  by  him 
who  is,  Your  Excellency's  most  affectionate  and  very  humble  servant, 

'  J  "J.  Bass." 


Brigadier  Hunter  to  the  Commissioners  of  Trade  and  Plantations. 

[Extract  of  a  letter  from  Brigadier  Hunter,  Governor  of  New  York,  dated  there  the 
9th  of  April,  1715.] 

"  Mr.  Talbot  has  incorporated  the  Jacobites  in  the  Jerseys,  under  the  name 
of  a  Church,  in  order  to  sanctify  his  Sedition  and  Insolence  to  the  Govern- 
ment. 

"I.  the  Society  take  not  more  care  for  the  future,  than  has  been  taken 
hitherto,  in  the  choice  of  their  Missionaries,  instead  of  establishing  Religion, 
they'll  destroy  all  Government  and  good  manners." 


The  Secretary  to  Mr.  Talbot. 

August  23d,  1715. 

*'  T^fvprt^nt)  Sir  * 

'  "  I  wrote  to  you  on  the  7  th  of  April,  in  answer  to  yours 
of  the  28th  of  October  last,  which  will  come  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Walker,  but 
because  possibly  this  may  come  to  your  hands  before  his  arrival,  I  have 
enclosed  a  copy  thereof.  I  am  ordered  to  acquaint  you  that  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Societv,  the  first  of  July  last,  the  Right  Reverend,  the  Lord  Bishop  of 
London,  laid  before  them  an  Extract  of  a  Letter,  communicated  to  him  by 
the  Lord  Commissioners  of  Trade  and  Plantations,  which  was  sent  to  them 
from  Brigadier  Hunter,  Governor  of  New  York,  containing  a  complaint 
against  you,  with  respect  to  your  behaviour  in  those  parts.  The  Society 
considered  the  same,  and  thereupon  ordered  a  Copy  of  the  said  Extract, 
should  be  sent  you,  that  you  may  have  an  opportunity  of  giving  your  answer 
to  that  charge,  a  Copy  of  which  Extract  is  likewise  here  inclosed.  1  have 
nothing  more  in  charge  to  communiate  to  you  at  present. 

"  I  am,  &c, 

"  W.  Taylor." 


76  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

The  Church-  Wardens,  <&c,  of  Burlington  to  the  Honourable  Society. 

Burlington,  28th,  1715. 
"  Right  Reverend  and  Right  Honorable  : 

"  We  cannot  but  adore  that 
Divine  Providence  that  has  raised  up  so  illustrious  a  Society,  to  be  the 
propagators  and  defenders  of  the  best  of  Churches,  in  these  dark  corners  of 
the  world,  where  the  members  are  so  frequently  exposed  to  the  malice  and 
rage  of  those  who  are  declared  enemies,  both  to  her  doctrine  and  discipline. 
"We  acknowledge  with  the  highest  degree  of  gratitude,  the  sensible  effects  of 
your  favour  and  protection,  which  we  have  already  received,  and  hope  we 
shall,  by  the  grace  of  God,  be  enabled  so  to  carry  ourselves,  in  this  trouble- 
some age,  that  no  calumnies  of  our  enemies,  may  anyways  lessen  your 
opinion  of  us  ;  we  have  had  the  happiness,  at  your  expense,  of  being  educated 
under  the  care  of  a  truly  Pious  and  Apostolic  Person,  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Talbot,  the  fervour  and  excellencies  of  whose  discourses,  and  the  piety  of 
whose  life  are  the  best  recommendations  of  the  religion  he  professes,  in  now 
better  than  this  12  years,  that  he  hath  had  not  only  the  care  of  us,  but  on  all 
emergent  occasions,  that  of  all  the  neighbouring  Churches,  hath  lain  on  him, 
and  in  all  that  time,  we  are  bound  to  assert,  that  we  never  heard  either  in  his 
public  discourses  or  private  conversation,  anything  that  might  tend  towards 
encouraging  sedition,  or  anyways  insolencing  the  government ;  it  was  there- 
fore with  the  greatest  surprise  imaginable,  that  we  read  the  following  clause 
of  a  letter  from  Brigadier  Hunter  to  the  Board  of  Trade  and  Plantation, 
dated  the  9th  of  April,  1*7 15,  by  the  Right  Reverend,  the  Bishop  of  London, 
communicated  to  your  Reverend  and  Honourable  Society,  in  these  words, 
'  Mr.  Talbot  has  incorporated  the  Jacobites  in  the  Jerseys,  under  the  name  of 
a  Church,  in  order  to  sanctify  his  sedition  and  insolence  to  the  government ; 
if  the  Society  take  not  more  care  for  the  future,  than  has  been  taken  hitherto, 
in  the  choice  of  their  Missionaries,  instead  of  Establishing  religion,  they  will 
destroy  all  government  and  good  manners.'  What  could  induce  this  gentle- 
man to  endeavour  to  fix  so  barbarous,  so  calumnious,  so  very  false,  and 
groundless  a  scandal,  is  to  us  altogether  unaccountable,  to  which  we  think 
the  shortest  answer  that  can  be  given,  is  that  of  Nehemiah  to  Sanballat, 
'  there  are  no  such  things  done  as  thou  sayest,  but  thou  feignest  them  out  of 
thine  own  heart." 

"  The  Church  at  Burlington,  Right  Reverend  and  Right  Honourable,  is  the 
only  Church  that  we  know  of,  incorporated  in  the  Jerseys,  which  was  begun, 
by  that  steady  protector  of  our  Churches  here,  the  Earl  of  Clarendon,  when 
he  was  her  late  Majesty's  Governor  of  this  province,  and  finished  under  the 
administration  of  Colonel  Richard  Ingoldsby,  and  we  are  therefore,  more 
particularly  concerned,  to  answer  to  this  charge.  Our  Minister,  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Talbot,  having  undertaken  his  own  defence  against  what  the  Governor 
hath  charged  him  with,  we  shall  say  no  more,  than  what  we  have  said,  on 
this  account." 


Keith  and  Talbot.  7* 

Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"Burlington,  November  1st,  1715. 

"Sir: 

"First  I  am  bound  to  render  thanks  to  the  Right  Rev.  and 
Right  Honourable  Society,  for  sending  honest  Mr.  Walker,  to  my  assistance  ;  I 
hope  he  will  answer  the*  good  character  given  of  him  on  all  hands ;  I  have 
offered  him  my  house  at  Burlington,  and  all  my  interest  is  at  his  service. 

"  Next,  I  am  obliged  to  the  Society,  for  giving  me  leave  to  answer  for  my- 
self, touching  the  reflections  cast  upon  me  by  Brigadier  Hunter.  To  be  an 
accuser  is  bad,  to  be  a  false  accuser  is  worse,  but  a  false  accuser  of  the  bre- 
thren is  literally  a  Devil ;  I  make  no  difference,  for  I  call  God  to  witnessv 
I  know  no  soul,  in  the  Church  of  Burlington,  nor  in  any  other  Church  I 
have  planted,  but  is  well  affected  to  the  Protestant  Church  of  England  and 
present  Government  in  the  house  of  Hanover;  therefore  he  that  accused 
us  all  for  Jacobites,  has  the  greater  sin.  I  can  compare  it  to  nothing  more 
or  less,  than  Doeg,  the  Edomite,  who  stabbed  the  Priests'  characters,,  and 
then  cut  all  their  throats ;  or  Haman,  the  Agagite,  who  slandered,  all  the 
Jews  as  Jacobites  who  did  not  observe  the  King's  Laws;  so  they  were 
appointed  as  sheep  to  the  slaughter;  but  God  delivered  them,  and  so,  I  hope 
he  will  do  tis,  from  the  hand  of  the  Enemy.  The  Honourable  Colonel  Bass, 
our  Chief-Church-Warden,  as  diligent  and  faithful  a  servant  of  the  Church 
and  Crown  as  any,  has  been  belied  out  of  his  Secretary's  Office,  and  fined,  and 
confined  in  the  Common  Gaol,  for  nothing  but  defending  the  Royal  Law 
of  Kino-  George,  against  an  idol  of  the  heathenish  Quakers.  Mr.  Alexander 
Griffiths  died  ^heart-broken,  being  falsely  accused  and  abused  as  a  disaffected 
person  to  the  -Government ;  he  "died  at  Amboy  ;  poor  Mr.  Ellis,  the  school- 
master, is  very  much  discouraged  in  his  business  by  a  Quaker  school-master 
being  set  up,  in  opposition  to  his  license  ;  he  has  made  his  complaints  oft, 
not  without  cause,  but  without  effect ;  he  is  a  very  sober,  honest  young  gen- 
tleman, and  deserves  better  encouragement.  I  wish  the. Society  would  take 
some  better  care  of  Burlington  House  ;  as  for  Governour  Hunter,  he  does  not 
come  here  once  in  three  years,  and  as  soon  as  he  gets  his  money,  spends 
it  all  at  New  York ;  so  that  we  have  only  the  burden,  not  the  benefit, 
of  Government;  therefore  we  have  the  greater  need  of  a  Chorepiscopu:, 
a  Rural  Bishop  or  Suffragan,  to  impart  some  spiritual  Gift,  without  which, 
there  never  was,  or  can  be  any  being,  or  well-being  of  a  Church.  This  is  the 
burden  of  all  our  lamentations,  and  so  it  will  be,  till  it  is  answered ;_  the 
sooner  the  better,  Cum  bono  deo.  So  desiring  prayers  of  the  sacred  Society, 
I  remain, 

"  Your  humble  servant, 

"John  Talbot."' 


78  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 


"  Sir  : 


Burlington,  1716, 


"  I  have  not  had  the  favour  of  a  letter,  though  I  have  sent 
several  since  Mr.  Walker  arrived.  I  have  put  him  into  the  Church  at 
Burlington,  and  into  a  house,  which  out  of  my  poverty,  I  have  prepared  for 
the  service  of  the  Church,  for  ever,  and  for  the  use  of  the  missionaries,  for  the 
time  being,  from  the  Honourable  Society,  if  I  die  in  the  service,  and  be  not 
forced  to  sell  it  again  for  pure  necessaries. 

"  I  hear  that  one  of  my  bills  was  ordered  to  lie  by  for  a  half  year.  I  wish  I 
had  known  the  reason  of  it,  that  I  might  have  answered  by  the  bearer,  the 
Honourable  Colonel  Coxe,  who  comes  home  with  another  gentleman  of  the 
Vestry  of  the  Church  at  Burlington,  to  clear  that  Church  from  the  slanders 
that  Colonel  Hunter  has  raised  against  us,  only  because  we  were  Christians, 
and  could  not  serve  God  and  Mammon,  Christ  and  Belial,  &c. 

"  I  don't  know  any  thing  that  I  have  done,  contrary  to  my  duty,  either  in 
Church  or  State  ;  but  if  it  be  resolved  that  no  Englishman  shall  be  in  Mission 
or  Commission,  apud  Americanos,  I  don't  know  what  we  have  done,  that 
we  should  all  give  place  to  Scotch-Irish ;  but  I  am  content  to  suffer  with  Good 
Company,/erre  quam  sortem  patvuntur  omnes,  nemo  recuset.  I  suffer  all  things 
for  the  elect's  sake,  the  poor  church  of  God,  here,  in  the  Wilderness.  There 
is  none  to  guide  her,  among  all  the  sons  that  she  has  brought  forth,  nor 
is  there  any  that  takes  her  by  the  hand  of  all  the  sons  that  she  has  brought 
up.  When  the  Apostles  heard  that  Samaria  had  received  the  word  of  God, 
immediately  they  sent  out  two  of  the  chief,  Peter  and  John,  to  lay  their 
hands  on  them,  and  pray  that  they  might  receive  the  Holy  Ghost ;  they  did 
not  stay  for  a  secular  design  of  salary  ;  and  when  the  Apostles  heard  that  the 
word  of  God  was  preached  at  Antioch,  presently  they  sent  out  Paul  and  Bar- 
nabas, that  they  should  go  as  far  as  Antioch,  to  confirm  the  Disciples,  and  so 
the  Churches  were  established  in  the  faith,  and  increased  in  number  daily  ; 
and  when  Paul  did  but  dream  that  a  man  of  Macedonia  called  him,  he 
set  sail  all  so  fast,  and  went  over  himself  to  help  them ;  but  we  have  been 
here  these  twenty  years,  calling  till  our  hearts  ache,  and  ye  own  'tis  the 
call  and  the  cause  of  God,  and  yet  ye  have  not  heard,  or  have  not  answered, 
and  it  is  all  one. 

"  I  must  say  this,  if  the  Society  don't  do  more  in  a  short  time,  than  they 
have,  in  a  long,  they  will,  I  fear,  lose  their  honour  and  character  too ;  I  don't 
pretend  to  prophesy,  but  you  know  how  they  said  the  kingdom  of  God  shall 
be  taken  from  them,  and  given  to  a  nation  that  will  bring  forth  the  fruits  of 
it.  God  give  us  all  the  grace  to  do  the  things  that  belong  to  our  peace,  so 
God  bless  you  all. 

"  And  yours, 

"  John  Talbot. 

"You  may  imagine  what  you  please  of  the  Irish  missionaries,  but  I  am  sure 
we  have  lost  Mr.  Brook  and  Thoroughgood  Moore,  two  English-men,  that 
were  worth  all  the  Teagues  that  ever  came  over." 


Keith  and  Talbot.  *79 

Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary.      (Extract!) 

"  Burlington,  September  17th,  1717. 
"Sir: 

"  I  received  an  Order  from  the  Society,  to  look  after  some 
Lands  belonging  to  the  House  at  Burlington,  together  with  Mr.  Vesey,  but  he 
is  not  yet  come  this  way,  so  I  shall  say  nothing  to  that  point  at  present, 
because  it  is  but  an  acre  or  two,  and  that  is  safe  enough. 

"  The  Quakers  would  have  got  that,  as  they  have  all  the  rest  of  the  mea- 
dow Lands  belonging  to  the  Bishop's  House,  and  divided  them  amongst 
themselves." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"  Burlington,  May  3d,  1718. 
"Sir: 

"  I  used  to  write  to  you  now  and  then,  though  I  seldom 
have  the  favour  of  an  answer,  or  not  to  the  point.  All  your  missionaries 
hereabouts,  are  going  to  Maryland,  for  the  sake  of  themselves,  their  wives  and 
children  ;  for  my  part,  I  cannot  desert  my  poor  Flock,  that  I  have  gathered, 
nor  will  I,  if  I  have  neither  Money,  Credit,  nor  Tobacco.  But  if  I  had  known 
as  much  as  I  do  now,  that  the  Society  were  not  able,  for  their  pails,  to  send 
Bishop,  Priest,  nor  Deacon,  no  Lecturer  nor  Catechist,  no  hinter,  nor  holder- 
forth,  I  would  never  have  put  the  good  people  in  these  parts  to  the 
charge  and  trouble  of  building  Churches ;  (nay,  now  they  must  be  stalls,  or 
stables  for  Quakers  horses,  when  they  come  from  market  or  meeting)  as 
I  said  before,  but  some  people  will  not  believe  till  it  is  too  late.  Dr.  Evans 
himself  is  gone  to  Maryland,  for  he  says  nobody  will  serve  the  Church 
for  nought,  as  I  do ;  for  my  part,  I  cannot  blame  the  People  in  these  parts, 
for  they  do  what  they  are  able,  and  no  body  can  desire  more,  rich  or  poor, 
for  those  that  do  them  any  good.  My  Duty  to  the  Honourable  Society. 
"  I  am  your  most  humble  servant, 

"  John  Talbot." 

[It  would  seem  that  not  long  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Mr.  Talbot  again 
visited  England,  and  obtained  the  interest  on  Archbishop  Tenison's  legacy  to 
the  oldest  American  missionary.] 


Copy  of  Order  for  Mr.  Talbofs  receiving  the  Interest  of  the  late 
Archbisho2)  Tenison's  £1000. 

"  Upon  the  humble  petition  of  John  Talbot,  Clerk,  this  day  preferred  to 
the  Right  Honourable,  the  Lord  High  Chancellor  of  Great  Britain,  thereby 
setting  forth  that  Dr.  Thomas  Tenison,  late  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  did  by 
Codicil  to  his  Will,  bequeath  £1000  towards  settlement  of  Bishops  in  Ame- 


80  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

rica ;  and  until  such  lawful  appointments  of  Bishops,  did  direct  that  the 
interest  should  be  applied  to  the  benefit  of  such  missionaries,  being  English- 
men of  the  province  of  Canterbury,  as  have  taken  true  pains  in  the  respective 
plans  committed  by  the  Society  to  their  care  in  the  foreign  plantations,  and 
have  been  by  unavoidable  accidents,  sickness,  or  other  infirmities  of  the  body, 
or  old  age,  disabled  from  the  performance  of  their  duties  in  the  said  places, 
and  forced  to  return  to  England ;  and  that  upon  the  hearing  of  this  Cause,  it 
was  among  other  things  ordered  that  the  £1000  should  be  placed  out  at 
interest,  on  such  Government  or  other  security  as  Mr.  Bennet,  by  whom 
the  account  of  the  Testator's  personal  Estate  was  directed  to  be  taken,  should 
approve  of,  and  the  interest  thereof  is  to  be  applied  according  to  the  directions 
of  the  Testator's  Will,  until  one  month  after  the  appointment  and  consecra- 
tion of  two  Bishops,  and  that  the  said  John  Talbot,  who  was  formerly  Rector 
of  Freethorn,  in  the  County  and  Diocese  of  Gloucester  and  province  of  Can- 
terbury, hath  been  in  the  service  of  the  said  Society  for  the  propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts,  as  their  Missionary  in  the  foreign  plantations, 
near  18  years,  during  which  time  he  hath  taken  true  pains  in  the  discharge  of 
his  holy  function,  in  the  several  places  committed  to  his  care  by  the  said 
Society,  and  by  his  zeal  and  exemplary  fife,  and  conversation,  hath  done  great 
service  to  the  Church  in  America,  and  therefore  is  qualified  to  receive  the 
interest  of  the  said  £1000,  as  by  the  certificate  of  the  said  Corporation,  under 
their  Common  Seal,  hereunto  annexed,  may  appear,  and  that  there  having  no 
Bishops  been  yet  appointed  in  America,  and  the  said  John  Talbot  being  the 
only  missionary  that  is  an  Englishman,  and  of  the  province  of  Canterbury, 
hath  been  so  long,  and  behaved  himself  so  well,  in  the  said  service,  as  by  the 
said  certificate  appears,  the  said  John  Talbot,  by  the  direction  of  the  said 
Society,  applied  himself  to  the  said  Mr.  Bennet,  for  the  said  interest,  who 
apprehends  he  cannot  pay  the  same  without  the  direction  of  this  Court,  and 
thereupon  the  said  John  Talbot,  on  the  2 2d  April  1721,  applied  himself 
to  your  Lordship,  that  the  said  Mr.  Bennet  might  pay  such  interest  as  was 
then  due  to  him,  which  was  ordered  accordingly,  and  that  the  said  Mr.  Ben- 
net, pursuant  to  the  said  Order,  did  pay  unto  the  said  John  Talbot,  all 
the  interest  then  received,  and  the  said  John  Talbot  hath  applied  to  the  said 
Mr.  Bennet  for  what  interest  has  been  received  since,  who  apprehends  he  can- 
not pay  the  same,  without  your  Lordship's  further  directions  :  Therefore,  and 
inasmuch  as  there  is  no  other  person  entitled  to  receive  any  part  of  the  said 
interest,  it  is  prayed,  that  the  said  Mr.  Bennet  may  be  ordered  to  pay  such 
Interest  as  is  now  due  to  the  said  John  Talbot,  or,  as  he  shall  appoint,  which 
is  ordered  accordingly,  whereof  notice  is  forthwith  to  be  given. 

"  Ric.  Price,  Deput.  Reg." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"  Burlington,  November  27. 
"  Sir  : 

"  I  and  Mr.  Skinner  arrived  safe,  in  six  weeks  at  Philadel- 
phia, never  better  weather,  nor  so  good  a  Passage,  as  the  Captain  said  (who 


Keith  and  Talbot.  81 

was  a  Quaker)  ;  they  and  the  sailors  used  to  say,  they  had  no  luck  when 
the  Priests  were  on  Board,  but  now  they  are  both  prettily  convinced,  and 
finally  converted,  to  say  no  more.  All  sorts  and  conditions  of  men,  women 
and  children  were  glad  to  see  us  return,  for  they  had  given  me  over.  I  was 
yesterday  at  New  Bristol,  in  Pensylvania,  to  call  the  people  to  Church,  but 
they  had  almost  lost  the  way  ;  it  was  so  overgrown  with  Bushes,  they  could 
hardly  find  the  Church,  having  had  nothing  to  do  there,  for  two  years  and  a 
half.  Since  I  came  away  the  Church  there  has  suffered  very  much,  but  the 
Bishop's  house  here  at  the  point,  is  in  the  worst  condition  of  all ;  'tis  made 
nothing  but  a  baudy-house,  a  sheep's  cote  and  play-house ;  the  boys  have 
broken  the  windows  from  the  top  to  bottom  ;  they  break  the  doors,  steal 
the  leads  and  iron  bars,  they  pull  down  the  pales,  and  cut  the  Cedar  posts, 
they  steal  the  fruit,  and  break  the  Trees  ;  'tis  in  vain  to  repair  it  any  more, 
unless  some  family  be  put  in  to  guard  it,  I  think.  I  have  a  house  of  my  own 
just  by  the  Church,  and  I  would  not  live  in  the  point  House,  if  they  would 
give  it  to  me,  but  I  am  loath  to  see  it  fall  down,  as  the  Coach  House  and 
stables  have  already  ;  and  what  will  they  do  for  the  meadows,  they  will  be  lost 
if  not  claimed  speedily,  the  witnesses  will  be  dead  that  know  where  the  Lands 
lie  ;  if  the  Society  think  fit  to  send  any  Orders  about  these  things,  I  hope 
they  will  come  before  it  is  too  late ;  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  lay  these  things 
before  the  Honorable  Body,  and  hope  you  will  read  it  to  the  Committee  and 
Society,  that  something  may  be  done,  before  the  whole  House  drops  through ; 
this  is  the  last  time  of  asking,  so  I  crave  your  prayers  and  remain 
"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"John  Talbot. 

"P.  S. — The  Society  had  better  never  have  bought  this  House,  for  some 
Gentleman  or  another,  such  as  Colonel  Cox,  would  have  done  very  well  with 
it,  but  since  they  have  bought,  and  can't  sell  it  again  for  the  worth,  they  had 
better  make  a  Free  School  or  a  College  ;  it  is  very  well  contrived  for  that 
purpose.  Several  of  Mr.  Skinner's  scholars  at  Philadelphia  are  fit  for  the 
Academy,  but  here  is  no  place  to  send  them  to ;  they  can't  afford  to  send 
their  children  to  Europe  for  Education ;  sailing  is  now  too  dangerous  and 
troublesome  and  chargeable,  something  of  a  College  must  be  had  here, 
the  sooner  the  better.   "  "  J.  T." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"  Burlington,  20th  September,  1723. 
"Rev.  Sir: 

"  I  have  more  work  to  do  now  than  I  had  before,  and  I  have 
no  assistant ;  they  are  both  gone,  and  have  left  me  and  the  Church  in 
the  lurch.  I  have  fifteen  miles  to  travel  from  the  Capes  of  Delaware  to 
the  Hills  and  Mountains  in  East  Jersey,  and  none  to  help  me  but  Mr.  Lidenius, 
a  Swedish  minister,  and  he  is  going  away.  I  have  been  this  month  at  Tren- 
ton, at  Hopewell,   and  Amwell,   preaching  and  baptizing  nineteen  persons 


82  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

in  one  day.  I  visited  several  persons  that  were  sick,  who  had  been  Quakers, 
and  who  were  come  off  their  errors,  with  Mr.  George  Keith ;  they  were 
80  years  of  age,  and  had  never  received  the  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  in  all  their  lives,  but  were  loth  to  die,  without  the  benefit  and  com- 
fort of  it ;  so  I  was  fain  to  come  back  again  to  Burlington,  to  get  the  Ele- 
ments, then  returned  to  the  Mountains,  and  did  administer  to  their  great 
satisfaction.  They  are  preparing  to  build  a  Church  in  the  Spring,  but  when 
they  will  have  a  minister  I  cannot  tell ;  but  it  is  a  solemn  thing  (as  they  say 
in  New  England)  for  the  lost  sheep  to  go  astray  in  the  Wilderness ;  to 
be  among  Wolves  is  worse,  but  for  sheep  to  be  without  a  shepherd,  is  the 
most  deplorable  case  of  all ;  meanwhile  it  is  some  comfort  to  see  the  Bishop's 
house  at  Burlington,  in  repairs  again :  it  is  as  well  finished  and  furnished, 
as  ever  I  saw  it.  The  Governour  of  New  York  is  coming  to  reside  here 
for  a  month  or  two.  We  have  got  an  honest  Churchman,  as  we  suppose, 
to  live  there  and  keep  it  in  good  order,  now  it  is  so,  by  care  and  order 
of  Colonel  Coxe  ;  if  the  account  comes  not  by  this  ship,  "  Old  Annise,"  it  will 
by  the  next  this  fall,  in  Captain  Richmond.  I  have  set  up  one  Mr.  Searle,  a 
schoolmaster,  to  read  prayers,  and  preach  on  Sundays,  at  Springfield ;  I  lent 
him  some  sermons  of  Drs.  Tillotson  and  Beveridge  ;  several  Quakers  came  to 
hear  him,  and  are  much  taken  with  him ;  they  say  they  never  thought  the 
Priests  had  so  much  Good  Doctrine.     I  am  sure  he  is  a  much  better  Clerk 

than  Mr.  H n,  saving  his  orders,  therefore  I  commend  him  to  the  Society 

for  their  encouragement ;   and  hope  they  will  count  him  worthy  to  be  a  half- 
pay  officer  in  their  service.     I  pray  God  bless  all  our  benefactors,  and  pros- 
per all  the  labours  of  all  their  honest  missioners,  especially 
"  Your  &c. 

"John  Talbot." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"  Burlington,  7bris  7th,  1724. 
"Rev.  Sir: 

"  I  have  been  here  altogether  this  last  half-year ;  I  preach 
once  on  Sunday  morn,  and  Catechize  or  Homilize  in  the  afternoon.  I  read 
the  prayers  of  the  Church,  in  the  Church,  decently,  according  to  the  order  of 
Morning  and  Evening  Prayer,  daily  through  the  year,  and  that  is  more  than 
is  done  in  any  Church  that  I  know,  apud  Americanos.  I  bought  a  house 
and  two  or  three  lots  of  land,  adjoining  to  the  Church-yard,  and  since  I  came 
over  last,  I  have  settled  by  deed,  upon  St.  Mary's  Church  at  Burlington,  a 
parsonage  and  glebe ;  though  there  was  neither  Church,  house,  nor  glebe, 
before  I  came,  I  hope  there  will  be  one  now,  for  ever.  I  design  to  send  the 
Society  some  account  of  the  particulars  of  this  in  my  next ;  and  this  is  more 
than  any  body  has  done  before,  that  I  know,  of  my  own  proper  cost  and 
charge  ;  so  that  I  have  been  a  good  husband,  to  do  this  of  my  poverty,  for  I 
have  no  salary  from  the  people.     I  had  formerly  £20  per  annum,  when  there 


Keith  and   Talbot.  83 

was  money,  but  now,  here  is  neither  money,  credit,  nor  tobacco,  nothing  but 
a  little  paper  coin,  that  is  nothing  but  sorry  rags,  and  we  can  hardly  get 
them  to  pay  the  Clerk  £10,  that  is  allowed  him  by  the  year.  We  are 
amongst  a  set  of  people  called  Quakers,  who  have  denied  the  faith,  and  are 
worse  than  infidels  ;  they  serve  no  God  but  Mammon,  and  their  own  Bellies, 
and  it  is  against  their  conscience  to  let  the  priest  have  anything,  either  by 
Law  or  Gospel.  I  have  commonly  the  Sacrament  administered  once  a 
month,  and  at  the  great  feasts  two  or  three  days  together ;  the  number  of 
Communicants  is  uncertain,  20,  30,  40,  or  50  persons. 

"  There  is  no  parochial  library  yet,  for  I  never  had  any,  from  the  Society, 
but  I  design  to  leave  mine,  and  Mr.  Thorogood  Moore's,  when  I  die,  to  that 
use  ;  meanwhile  we  want  Common  Prayer  Books  very  much.  If  it  please 
the  Honourable  Society,  instead  of  £5,  in  small  tracts,  to  let  that  money  be 
laid  out  in  Common  Prayer  Books,  they  would  be  of  great  use  to  the  people 
in  all  parts,  who  can't  get  them  here  for  love  or  money.  Those  small  tracts 
were  but  of  small  use,  for  they  laid  up  and  did  no  good,  and  not  being- 
bound,  they  soon  perish  in  the  using,  for  it  costs  more  to  bind  books  here, 
than  to  buy  them  in  Britain.  I  shall  say  but  one  thing  more  at  present, 
which  I  omitted  when  I  was  in  England,  for  my  money  was  short,  or  else  I 
would  have  got  some  Bells,  which  we  want  here  very  much  ;  I  don't  mean  a 
Ring  of  Bells  in  a  Steeple,  for  idle  fellows  to  make  a  vain  jangling,  but 
one  good  bell  in  the  Church,  that  the  people  may  know  when  to  come 
together  to  worship  God.  I  pray  for  you  all,  as  I  hope  you  do  for 
"  Your  most  Humble  Servant, 

"John  Talbot." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Bisho])  of  London. 

"  Burlington,  July  2d,  1725. 

"  May  it  Please  your  Lordship  : 

"I  understand  by  letters  from  some  friends  in  England, 
that  I  am  discharged  the  Society  for  Exercising  Acts  of  Jurisdiction  over  my 
Brethren,  the  Missionaries,  &c.  This  is  very  strange  to  me,  for  I  knew 
nothing  about  it,  nor  any  body  else,  in  all  the  world.  I  could  disprove  it  by 
1,000  witnesses,  but  since  there  is  one  come  home  in  the  Richmond,  Mrs. 
Alexander,  relict  of  the  Comptroller  in  Philadelphia,  &c.  (she  has  been  many 
years  a  member  of  Christ  Church),  she  can  give  your  Lordship  the  best 
account  of  the  present  state.  As  for  myself,  I  shall  not  turn  accuser  of  the 
Brethren,  but  this  I  will  say,  those  that  came  last  are  not  better  than  their 
fathers,  and  some  of  them  have  given  occasion  to  a  proverb  of  reproach,  and 
been  told  to  their  faces,  '  The  Devil  would  have  the  Bishop  of  London  for 
ordaining  such  fellows  as  you.' 

"  This  I  take  to  be  the  most  unpardonable  sin,  the  iniquity  of  Eli's  house, 
which  the  Lord  said  should  not  be  purged  with  sacrifice  nor  offering  for  ever, 


84  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

because  his  sons  made  themselves  vile,  and  he  restrained  them  not :  But,  my 
Lord,  let  them  be  who  they  will,  or  what  they  will,  to  their  own  Master  they 
stand  or  fall,  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  them,  nor  ever  had,  nor  ever 
will.  I  am  clear  of  the  blood  of  all  men,  and  will  so  keep  myself.  Let 
them  that  have  the  watch  look  out :  as  your  Lordship  has  done  me  the 
wrong,  so  I  hope  you  will  do  me  the  right,  upon  better  information,  to  let  me 
be  in  statu  quo, — for  indeed  I  have  suffered  great  wrong,  for  no  offence  or 
fault  at  all,  that  I  know  of,  a  long,  long  penance  I  have  done,  for  crimes, 
alas !  to  me  unknown,  but  God  has  been  with  me,  and  made  all  things 
work  together  for  my  good  ;  meanwhile  I  hope  your  Lordship  will  hear 
the  right,  and  do  nothing  rashly,  but  upon  your  authority,  for  the  edifi- 
cation and  not  for  the  destruction  of  this  poor  Church  apud  Americanos, 
which  has  many  adversaries,  and  none  to  help  her.  But  this  good  Lady, 
Mrs.  Alexander,  if  your  Lordship  please  to  give  her  audience,  will  give  the 
best  information,  and  answer  all  objections  that  can  be  alleged  against 
"  Your  most  humble 

"  And  faithful  servant, 

"J.  Talbot." 


Mr.  Talbot  to  the  Secretary. 

"  Burlington,  July  8th,  1725. 
"  Eeverend  Sir  : 

"  Yours  received  March,  ult.,  that  I  am  out  of  Quantum, 
with  the  Society,  and  also  a  Bill,  protested  since  that,  payable  to  Mr. 
Graham,  of  £30,  value  received.  I  heard  nothing  of  this  before  our  Lady 
Day  last  past,  therefore  I  have  drawn  a  bill  for  three  quarters'  salary,  for  so 
long  I  was  actually  in  their  service  at  my  proper  cost  and  charge,  in  propa- 
gating the  Gospel,  and  this  is  as  much  due  to  me,  as  any  I  have  from  them. 
Sir,  I  desire  the  favour  of  yourself  to  lay  the  case  before  the  Honourable 
Board,  and  when  they  consider  the  thing,  as  it  is,  they  will  please  to  pay  that 
Bill  to  my  worthy  Friend,  Mr.  Thomas  Forey,  for  I  never  knew  any  board 
discard  their  officers  but  they  paid  them,  for  the  time  being,  in  their  service, 
and  knew  nothing  of  their  will  and  pleasure  to  the  contrary.  I  remain,  your 
most  humble  and  obliged  servant, 

"John  Talbot." 


Keith  and  Talbot.  85 


[Extract  from  a  Memorial  to  the  Society  from  Churches  in   Pennsylvania  and  New 

Jersey.] 

"  Sheweth  : 

"That  the  melancholy  circumstance  of  the  Church  of 
England  in  these  Colonies,  is  a  subject,  we  hope,  worthy,  not  only  your 
compassion,  but  tender  regard,  having  not  above  one  Minister  to  seven  or  eight 
Churches  or  Congregations,  and  we  bemoan  our  case,  when  we  behold  so 
many  Churches,  lately  built,  lie  as  desolate  around  us,  convincing  arguments 
of  our  affection  for  the  Church,  and  of  our  great  misfortune  in  being 
destitute  of  pastors.  When  at  the  same  time  we  daily  see  Dissenters  of  all 
denominations,  continually  supplied,  and  increase,  through  this,  our  mis- 
fortune, and  upbraid  us  with  this  defect.  It  is,  therefore,  with  the  utmost 
concern,  we  express  our  unhappiness,  when  we  view  our  circumstances  rather 
decline  than  flourish.  In  particular,  that  Mr.  Talbot,  who  for  nigh  thirty 
years  past,  has  behaved  himself  with  indefatigable  pains,  and  good  success  in 
his  Ministry,  among  us,  under  your  Honour's  care,  has  by  some  late  conduct 
(nowise  privy  to  us),  rendered  himself  disagreeable  to  his  superiors  and 
departed  from  us.  We  cannot,  without  violence  to  the  principles  of  our 
Religion,  approve  of  any  acts,  or  give  into  any  measures  inconsistent  with 
our  duty  and  Loyalty  to  his  Majesty,  whom  God  long  preserve ;  yet  in 
gratitude  to  this  unhappy  Gentleman,  we  humbly  beg  leave  to  say,  that  by 
his  exemplary  life  and  ministry,  he  has  been  the  greatest  advocate  for  the 
Church  of  England,  by  Law  Established,  that  ever  appeared  on  this  shore. 
This  unhappy  accident,  together  with  the  death  and  removal  of  some  other 
clergymen  from  us,  has  very  much  increased  the  cause  of  our  complaint,  and 
we  have  no  other  recourse  but  to  your  Honours  for  relief.  Having  well- 
grounded  hopes,  the  same  good  spirit  which  prompted  you  to  undertake  the 
glorious  work  of  propagating  the  Gospel  in  foreign  parts  will  continue  your 
pious  regards  to  these  Colonies,  and  the  rather,  since  so  many  stately  monu- 
ments are  erected  for  God's  service,  testifying  our  sincere  willingness  to 
embrace  your  charitable  assistance,  and  to  answer  the  glorious  ends  you  have 
in  view. 

"  Therefore,  your  petitioners  most  humbly  beg  your  Honourable  Society 
will  please  to  extend  your  wonted  charity  and  necessary  supply  to  the 
several  Churches  and  Congregations,  of  which  particular  accounts  are  hereto 
annexed. 

"  And  your  Petitioners,  as  in  Duty  bound, 
"  Shall  ever  pray,"  (fee. 

Christ  Church,  Philadelphia. 

Samuel  Hasell,  )  n-,       ,        _, 
■o  -o  >  Churchwardens. 

ROBERT    JjOLTON,  ) 

Thomas  Lawrence,  Charles  Read,      "|        Vestrymen 

Thomas  Penton,  Benjamin  Morgan,  \  m.  •  *  rn.      \ 

T  „  '  »  y  Christ  Church, 

James   Iutiiill,  Ihomas  Iresse,  d,.7   ,  ,  .■ 

„  T  '  T  t,  '  Philadelphia. 

Thomas  Leech,  James  Bingham,  J  £ 


86  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Thomas  Polgreen,  Thomas  Chase,  William  Fraser,  Robert  Asheton, 
George  Plumly,  Arthur  Oliver,  Daniel  Harrison,  John  Brooks,  Henry  Dexter, 
John  Orton,  John  Knowles,  George  Meall,  R.  Asheton. 

St.  James''  Church  in  New  Bristol. 

John  Abraham  Denormandie,  } 

F.  Gaudouett,  >  Churchwardens. 

John  Allen,  ) 

St.  Mary's  Church  at  Burlington. 

Rowland  Ellis,      )  ni       -,         7 
T  t  r  Churchwardens. 

Jonathan  Lovett,  j 

Peter  Bard,  Samuel  Bustill,  Richard  Allison,  James  Gould,  John 
Dagworthy,  F.  Owes,  James  Trent,  Jacob  Baillergeau,  Edward  R.  Price, 
William  Cutler,  Thomas  Fosgate,  James  Thompson,  Anthony  Elton,  Simon 
Nightingale,  Thomas  Skeene,  Thomas  Hunloke,  George  Willis. 


The  Churchwardens  of  Burlington  to  the  Governor. 

"  November  4th,  1725. 
"  Since  your  Excellency  has  been  pleased  to  order,  that  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Talbot  should  surcease  officiating  in  this  Church,  it  heartily  grieves  me  to  see 
the  doors  thereof  daily  shut  up ;  but  we  humbly  beg  leave  to  acknowledge 
your  Excellency's  favour,  and  repeated  willingness  to  assist  and  join  with  us 
in  this  affair.  The  hurry  of  country  business,  that  would  not  admit  of  our 
members  to  meet  together,  prevented  our  addressing  your  Excellency  sooner, 
but  we  crave  leave  to  acquaint  your  Excellency,  that  as  it  is  our  unhappiness 
to  be  without  a  Minister,  we  humbly  hope  for  your  Excellency's  favourable 
countenance  and  good  offices  to  obtain  what  is  so  expedient  and  necessary 
for  the  interest  of  our  Holy  Religion  and  the  best  of  Churches,  of  which  we 
acknowledge  ourselves  unworthy  members. 
"  We  are,  &c, 

"  Rowland  Ellis,  and  others." 

Thus  far  Mr.  Talbot  has  been  permitted  to  illustrate  his  own  character,  by 
his  letters.  The  reader,  however,  will,  we  trust,  not  be  unwilling  to  trace  him 
to  the  end  of  his  career ;  and  particularly  to  be  informed  of  his  connec- 
tion with  the  Episcopate  in  the  Colonies,  derived  from  the  non-Jurors.  At 
the  request  of  the  Publishing  Committee,  therefore,  one  of  their  number  has 
prepared  the  following  paper  on  that  subject;  and  with  it  conclude  our 
memorials  of  Mr.  Talbot. 


NON-JURING    EPISCOPATE 


UNITED   STATES, 


COMPILED     BY     THE 


REVEREND    B.     FRANKLIN 


Part  of  the  documentary  evidence  of  the  existence  of  Bishops  in  America 
having  non-Juring  orders,  previous  to  the  Revolution,  is  contained  in  the 
preceding  letters.  Upon  referring  to  the  letters  written  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  by  the  Rev.  John  Talbot, 
anterior  to  his  visit  to  England,  a.d.  1718,  it  will  be  observed  that  he 
pleads  with  untiring  perseverance,  and  almost  pathetic  earnestness,  for  a 
Bishop  to  be  sent  to  America.  It  will  also  be  observed  that  at  one  time  he 
had  such  hopes  of  seeing  a  Bishop  here,  that  he  purchased  a  residence 
for  one  by  direction  of  the  Venerable  Society,  at  Burlington,  N.  J.  He 
waited  for  years  in  vain.  The  hopes  of  the  Society  were  dissipated.  Mr. 
Talbot  seems  to  have  despaired  of  obtaining  the  Episcopacy  from  the  Esta- 
blished Church,  and  during  his  absence,  as  above,  the  residence  purchased  for 
a  Bishop  went  to  decay. 

Mr.  Talbot  had  been  charged  falsely,  as  it  appears,  with  Jacobinism,  even 
previous  to  a.d.  1*715.  This  charge  might  have  suggested  to  him  the 
idea  of  obtaining  the  Episcopacy  from  the  Jacobin  Bishops  of  England.  It  is 
certain  that  he  went  to  England  about  a.d.  1718,  and  returned  late  in  the 
autumn  a.d.  1722.    V\Te  have  a  letter  from  him  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Society 


88  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  dated  November  27th  of  that  year, 
which  announces  his  safe  return.  In  this  letter,  and  in  all  that  succeed 
it,  not  even  a  request  appears  that  a  Bishop  be  sent  to  America,  a  matter 
which  Mr.  Talbot  never  before  omitted  strenuously  to  urge. 

It  was  during  this  visit  that  Mr.  Talbot  received  the  interest  on  Arch- 
bishop Tennison's  bequest. 

Mr.  Talbot,  while  in  England  at  this  time,  made  the  acquaintance  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Welton,  who  had  been  deprived  of  the  rectorship 
of  St.  Mary's,  Whitechapel,  London,  for  his  attachment  to  the  non-Jurors. 
At  this  time  also  occurred  the  first  division  in  the  ranks  of  the  non-Jurors 
themselves.  Some  adhered  to  the  English  Liturgy,  as  it  was  in  the  days 
of  James  II.,  while  others  wished  to  introduce  what  became  known  as  the 
"  Usages."  They  were  four,  namely,  mixing  Water  with  the  Wine,  Prayer 
for  the  Dead,  the  Prayer  for  the  Descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  the 
Elements,  and  the  Oblatory  Prayer.* 

The  party  which  rejected  the  "Usages,"  consecrated  Ralph  Taylor  a 
Bishop  in  the  year  1120.  Mr.  Perceval,  in  his  book  on  the  Apostolic 
Succession,  states  that  in  the  year  1722  Ralph  Taylor  consecrated  Robert 
Welton  a  Bishop,  and  then  Taylor  and  Welton  together  consecrated  John 
Talbot. 

Lathbury,  in  narrating  the  history  of  division  among  the  non-Jurors, 
writes : 

"  Being  once  divided,  other  minor  separations  or  subdivisions  soon  fol- 
lowed. Thus  in  l723-4,f  Robert  Welton  was  consecrated  a  Bishop  by 
Ralph  Taylor,  who,  contrary  to  the  Canons  of  the  Church,  took  upon 
himself  to  act  in  his  individual  capacity.  No  precedent  could  be  pleaded 
for  such  a  proceeding,  which  must,  therefore,  be  regarded  as  an  innova- 
tion on  the  practice  of  the  Universal  Church  from  the  Apostolic  age. 
Talbot  also  was  consecrated  by  Taylor  and  Welton.  These  consecrations, 
therefore,  were  viewed  as  irregular  and  uncanonical.  It  appears  that  Tay- 
lor [Talbot]  and  Welton  were  never  recognised  as  Bishops  by  the  rest  of  the 
body;  yet  both  exercised  the  Episcopal  functions  in  the  American  Colo- 
nies. The  Government,  at  the  desire  of  the  Bishop  of  London,  at  length 
interposed,  when  Welton  retired  to  Portugal,  where  he  died  in  1726,  and 
Taylor  [Talbot]  returned  to  the  Communion  of  the  National  Church." 

This  paragraph  has  been  quoted  in  full  from  Lathbury,  though  it 
contains  some   errors  which   the  following  documents  will  show.     It  con- 


*  Lathbury's  History  of  the  Non- Jurors,  pp.  252,  492-494. 
t  A  mistake  of  a  year  probably. 


Keith  and  Talbot.  89 

firms,  if  it  does  not  merely  repeat,  the  statement  of  actual  consecration 
whic.h  appears  in  Perceval's  work. 

Dr.  Welton  and  Mr.  Talbot  undoubtedly  came  to  America  soon  after 
their  consecration,  and  labored  in  the  cities  and  vicinities  of  Philadelphia 
and  Burlington. 

The  Documents  which  prove  this  are  given  below,  with  the  exception 
of  those  which  appear  in  the  previous  part  of  the  volume. 


Letter  from  an  Unknown  Person  to  Dr  Bray. 

"  Cecil  County  in  Maryland,  July  29th,  1724. 
"Rev.  Sir: 

"  In  a  former  I  have  acquainted  you  with  my  treatment  at 
Philadelphia,  how  villainously  and  barbarously  I  was  supplanted  by  Mr.  Tal- 
bot, who  has  been  years  at  Burlington  in  the  Jerseys,  some  time  Itinerant 
with  George  Keith,  and  very  famous  for  his  disaffection  to  the  Crown.  Ever 
since  the  revolution  he  and  one  Smith  a  rigid  took  some  pains  to 

persuade  me  not  to  pray  for  the  King  and  Royal  Family,  but  to  say  as  they 
did,  only  the  King  and  Prince  ('tis  obvious  whom  they  mean)  and  since 
I  was  not  to  be  wrought  on,  I  was  by  their  contrivance  very  unhandsomely 
kick't  out,  and  in  order  to  proselv te  that  province  he,  the  said  Talbot,  supplyed 
the  place  till  some  honest  hearts  addressed  the  Governour,  and  he  ordered  the 
Church  doors  to  be  shut  up,  but  now  set  open  again  to  your  late  neighbour 
Dr.  Welton,  who  I  hear  is  lately  arrived  there.  If  more  such  come  of  that 
kidney  all  the  clergy  both  in  and  out  of  the  Government  will  be  corrupted, 
and  the  people  all  seduced  from  their  allegiance  to  his  Majesty — there  will  be 
no  need  of  popish  priests  and  Jesuits  any  longer — they  who  should  oppose 
and  resist  will  effectually  carry  on  and  promote  the  Romish  designs.  I  can't 
but  wonder  how  my  Lord  Chancellor  was  induced  to  let  Talbot  when  last  in 
England  have  the  interest  of  the  late  Archbishop  Cant,  his  legacy  towards 
sending  a  Bishop  over  into  America,  with  assurance  of  having  it  for  the 
future  till  one  be  appointed.  I  am  now  settled  here  in  an  easy  parish  well 
disposed  people.  I  have  a  fine  glebe  and  between  30  and  40,000  lbs.  worth 
of  tobacco  yearly ;  but  I  fear  I  shall  receive  none  this  year,  that  and  corn 
all  being  burnt  up  with  the  excessive  drought.     I  am  with  all  humble  respects, 

"Rev.  Sir,  Your,  &c." 


The  above  letter  was  undoubtedly  written  by  the  Rev.  John  Urmston, 
as  will  appear  from  its  correspondence  with  the  following  letter  by  that 
clergyman,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Venerable  Society.  Though  Mr.  Urm- 
ston uses  harsh  language,  he  does  not  appear  to  have  been  able  to  specify 
against  Mr.  Talbot  any  other  charge  than  that  of  Jacobinism.  The  charge 
of   supplanting  is  at  least   open   to    a    difference  of    opinion,   particularly 


90  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

as  the  first  part  of  the  letter  shows  that  Mr.  Urmston's  labors  were  pro- 
bably not  very  acceptable,  inasmuch  as  he  came  to  America  after  vainly 
seeking  employment  in  England ;  and  in  this  country  also  wandered  about 
seeking  employment  for  a  long  time  in  vain.  It  is  thought  best  to  give 
the  letter  in  full.  Though  the  first  third  of  it  does  not  bear  upon  the 
evidence  of  non-juring  Episcopacy  in  the  American  Colonies,  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  remainder  contains  almost  positive  testimony  to  the  fact : 


"  Cecil  County  in  Maryland,  June  ult.  1724. 
"Rev.  Sir: 

"  You  may  remember  that  I  once  had  a  mind  to  have  gone 
with  the  D.  of  Portland ;  you  were  pleased  to  offer  me  that  letter  to  a  French 
Marquis  who  went  with  his  Grace.  I  thought  my  Lord  D.  of  Kington  who 
married  the  other's  sister  might  be  more  effectual.  He  spake  to  his  brother 
and  his  answer  was  that  he  should  take  no  more  into  his  family  and  yet  soon 
after  entertained  Charles  Lamb.  This  Avas  one  of  the  many  disappointments 
I  met  with  whilst  in  England  last.  I  was  rude  in  not  acquainting  you  with 
my  departure,  but  believe  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  pardon  that  and  many 
other  liberties  particularly  this  long  scroll  which  with  humble  respects  will 
give  you  a  further  account  of  my  unfortunate  circumstances  which  I  the 
rather  communicate  to  you  knowing  you  to  be  no  half  papist,  as  too  many 
of  the  clergy  now-a-days  are.  • 

"  You're  to  be  acquainted  that  I  went  from  London  to  New  England, 
where  I  had  some  hopes  of  staying  but  was  prevented  by  the  New  Converts, 
one  whereof  had  the  offer  if  he  would  go  to  England  and  be  ordained,  and 
forthwith  did,  and  is  now  minister  of  the  New  Episcopal  Church  in  Boston, 
the  only  man  that  could  be  thought  of;  he'll  do  more  good  there  than  any 
other.  I  left  the  place  very  contentedly,  and  went  from  New  York,  where  I 
narrowly  missed  of  being  Chaplain  to  the  Fort  and  assistant  to  Mr.  Vesey. 
Hearing  that  the  Incumbent  of  Philadelphia  was  gone  to  England  for  his 
health,  and  left  the  place  ill-supplyed,  I  hastened  thither,  and  was  gladly 
received  of  the  people.  About  six  months  after,  we  had  the  news  of  the  death 
of  the  Incumbent  aforesaid.  I  had  written  to  my  correspondent  to  get  some 
friend  to  intercede  with  my  then  Lord  of  London  to  appoint  me  minister  there. 
I  never  doubted  of  my  friend's  diligence  nor  his  Lordship's  favour,  but  my 
letters  from  England  must  certainly  have  been  intercepted.  Mr.  Talbot,  the 
famous  Rector  of  Burlington,  in  the  Jerseys,  supplanted  me  here*  Governor 
Burnet  had  been  long  displeased  with  him  by  reason  he  is  a  notorious 
Jacobite,  and  will  not  pray  for  the  King  and  Royal  Family  by  name,  only 
says  the  King  and  Prince,  by  which  'tis  obvious  whom  he  means.  He  hath 
often  endeavoured  to  persuade  me  to  do  so  too  (little  less  than  treason,  I 

*  The  counter  statement  to  this  will  be  seen  in  another  part  of  this  volume,  in  a  letter 
of  Talbot,  dated  at  Philadelphia,  9th  December,  1723,  in  the  part  immediately  following 
the  blank,  which  blank,  as  the  coincidence  of  dates  proves,  should  contain  the  name  of 
the  Rev.  John  Urmston. 


Keith  and  Talbot.  91 

think,  to  go  about  to  pervert  the  King's  subjects  from  their  duty  and  allegi- 
ance to  his  Majesty).  He  hath  poisoned  all  the  neighbouring  clergy  with  his 
rebellious  principles ;  they  dare  not  pray  otherwise  "than  he  does  when  he  is 
present.  _  He  caused  many  of  my  hearers  to  leave  the  Church;  at  last  he 
gained  his  point,  was  accepted,  and  I  kicked  out  very  dirtily  by  the  Vestry, 
who  pretend  that  the  Bishop  of  London  is  no  Diocesan,  nor  hath  anything  to 
do  there  more  than  another  Bishop,  so  that  any  one  that  is  lawfully  ordained 
and  licenced  by  any  Bishop,  it  matters  not  who,  the  Bishop  of  Rome  I 
suppose^  Talbot  and  many  more  will  say,  or  any  other,  is  capable  of  taking 
upon  him  any  cure  in  America.  I  was  not  sorry  for  my  removal  from  so 
precarious  and  slavish  a  place,  where  they  require  two  sermons  every  Lord's 
Day,  Prayers  all  the  week,  and  Homilies  on  Festivals,  besides  abundance  of 
Funerals,  Christenings  at  home,  and  sick  to  be  visited  ;  no  settled  salary,  the 
Churchwardens  go  from  house  to  house  every  six  months,  every  one  gives  what 
he  pleases,  sometimes  liberally,  and  on  the  least  pretence  or  dislike,  or  it  may 
be  the  persuasion  of  the  Churchwardens  and  their  adherents,  they'll  give 
nothing,  and  so  they  forced  that  worthy  gentleman,  Dr.  Evans,  and  many 
others  to  leave  the  places  ;  they  love  new  faces.  I  was  told  that  they  had 
eleven  ministers  within  the  space  of  nine  years.  About  three  months  after 
Talbot  was  gotten  into  his  kingdom  some  had  the  courage  to  go  to  Sir 
William  Keith,  who  otherwise  was  well  enough  pleased  with  Talbot,  and  to 
tell  his  Excellency  that  it  was  a  shame  such  a  fellow  should  be  allowed  to 
officiate  in  the  Church,  and  that  if  his  Excellency  suffered  him  they  would 
write  to  England  against  them  both,  whereupon  Talbot  was  sent  away,  and 
the  place  hath  been  vacant  these  four  months.  What  has  become  of  this 
great  Apostle  I  know  not ;  certainly  Governor  Burnet  will  not  suffer  him  to 
return  to  Burlington.  Some  of  his  confidants  have  discovered  that  he  is 
in*  orders,  as  many  more  rebels  are.f     I  have  heard  of  no  ordina- 

tions he  has  made  as  yet,  but  doubtless  he'll  persuade  all  the  clergy  who  are 
his  creatures  to  be  ordained  again  by  him.  To  this  end  he  came  fraught 
from  England  with  some  of  the  most  virulent  and  scandalous  pamphlets  he 
could  pick  up ;  that  one  I  met  with  by  chance,  whose  title  was,  '  The  Case 
Truly  Stated,'  proving  that  all  ordained  by  Bishops  consecrated  since  or 
such  as  conformed  and  approved  of  the  revolution  are  imposters,  and  the 
divine  service  is  only  to  be  performed  by  those  who  have  been  re-ordained  by 
non-jurors,  and  that  there  are  enough  of  them  all  over  England  to  serve  the 
Church.     Prok  mores  atque  hominum  fidem  ! 

"As  oldest  Missionary  he  received  the  three  years'  interest  of  the  £2000 
the  _  late  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  his  legacy  towards  the  support  of 
a  Bishop  in  the  plantations,  and  is  entitled  to  the  same  until  a  Bishop  be 
appointed.  My  Lord  Chancellor  did  not  know  the  man,  or  certainly  he 
would  never  have  admitted  him  to  so  great  a  favour.  I  went  by  land  "from 
Philadelphia  to  North  Carolina,  in  order  to  take  a  view  of  Maryland  and 

*  The  blank  above  evidently  was  filled  by,  or  intended  to  be  understood  as  if  contain- 
ing, the  word  Bishop's. 

t  This  can  hardly  be  regarded  as  proof  that  there  were  a  number  of  non-juring 
Bishops  in  the  Colonies.  Mr.  Urmston  was  plainly  loose,  both  in  his  insinuations  and 
assertions.  If  there  had  been  such  numbers  as  he  would  seem  to  assert,  we  should 
undoubtedly  find  other  mention  of  them. 


92  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Virginia,  and  to  sell  my  Plantation,  stock,  and  goods  ;  that  done,  I  returned 
to  Maryland,  and  am  settled  in  Cecil  County,  a  very  promising,  thriving 
place;  the  income  is  between  33  and  34,000,  which  will  he  considerable 
when  Tobacco  bears  a  price. 

"I  am,  Reverend  Sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient 

"  John  Urmston." 


TExtract  of  a  Letter  from  Mr.  Henderson*  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  dated  "  Maryland, 

August  16th,  1724. 

"  Mr.  Talbot,  Minister  of  Burlington,  returned  trom  England  about  two 

years  ago  in  Episcopal  orders,  though  his  orders  till  now  of  late  have  been 
kept  as  a  great  secret,  and  Dr.  Welton  is  arrived  there  about  six  weeks 
ago,  as  I'm  credibly  informed,  in  the  same  capacity,  and  the  people  of  Phila- 
delphia are  so  fond  of  him  that  they  will  have  him  right  or  wrong  for  their 
minister. 

"  I  am  much  afraid  these  gentlemen  will  poison  the  people  _  of  that 
province.  I  cannot  see  what  can  prevent  it  but  the  speedy  arrival  of  a 
Bishop  there,  one  of  the  same  order  to  confront  them,  for  the  people  will 
rather  take  confirmation  from  them  than  have  none  at  all,  and  by  that  means 
they'll  hook  them  into  the  schism. 

"  I  am  well  assured  they'll  get  no  footing  in  this  province,  for  I  dare  say 
his  Majesty  King  George  has  not  subjects  any  where  in  his  dominions 
more  zealously  attached  to  him  than  the  Clergy  and  Protestant  laity  here, 

are. 

"  I  question  not  but  your  Lordship  in  your  great  wisdom  will  find  out 
some  expedient   to   prevent  the   ruin  that  threatens  _  the   Church    in   that 
province.     I  need  say  no  more  but  to  beg  your  Lordship's  prayers  for, 
"  May  it  please  your  Lordship, 
"  Your  most  dutiful  son  and 

"  Most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"Jacob  Henderson." 


*  Mr.  Henderson  was  Commissary  in  Maryland. 


"  Mr  Lord  : 


Keith  and  Talbot.  93 

Mr.  Stubbs  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 

"  Westmer,  April  16,1725. 


"  In  obedience  to  your  Lordship's  commands,  just  now  laid 
upon  me  in  the  Cockpit,  I  dispatch  as  ordered  by  Sir  J.  Phillips,  two  para- 
graphs of  a  letter  just  come  to  hand,  signed  '  John  Urmston,'  and  dated 
'Cecil  County,  in  Maryland,  7ber.  29th,  1724  :'  'P.  S.  Mr.  Talbot  did  me  no 
unkindness  in  causing  me  to  be  turned  out  of  Philadelphia  to  make  room 
for  himself.  He  convened  all  the  clergy  to  meet,  put  ©n  his  robes  and  de- 
manded Episcopal  obedience  from  them ;  one  wiser  than  the  rest  refused, 
acquainted  the  Governor  with  the  ill  consequences  thereof,  the  danger  he 
would  run  of  losing  his  Government,  whereupon  the  Governor  ordered  the 
Church  to  be  shut  up.' 

"  '  P.  S.  He  is  succeeded  by  Dr.  Welton,  who  makes  a  great  noise  amongst 
them  by  reason  of  his  sufferings.  He  has  brought  with  him  to  the  value  of 
£300  sterling  in  guns  and  fishing  tackle,  with  divers  printed  copies  of  his 
famous  altarqueee  at  White  Chapel.  He  has  added  a  scrowl  with  words 
proceeding  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Bishop  of  Peterborough  to  this  effect,  as 
I  am  toldf  "  I  am  not  he  that  betrayed  Christ,  though  as  ready  to  do  it  as 
ever  Judas  was."  I  have  met  him  since  in  the  streets,  but  had  no  further 
conversation  with  him.' 

"  Your  Lordship's 

"  Most  dutiful 

"Philip  Stubbs." 


Sir  William  Keith  to  the  Secretary  S.  P.  <x. 

"May  13,  1725. 

"  Sir  : 

"  The  notice  which  the  Society  do  me  the  honour  to  give 
by  your  letter  of  loth  January,  concerning  Dr.  Welton's  character,  shall  be 
duly  regarded  by  using  all  the  means  that  is  in  my  power  to  prevent  the 
mischief  which  they  apprehend  from  the  Doctor's  residing  in  the  Govern- 
ment, But  so  long  as  the  Vestry  here  take  upon  them  to  be  wholly  inde- 
pendent on  the  Governor's  authority,  and  that  Clergymen  may  be  indifferently 
called  without  either  a  license  from  the  Bishop  or  Induction  here,  I  hope  I 
cannot  be  accountable  for  irregularities  of  that  nature  untill  I  am  better 
assisted  with  a  proper  authority;  and  if  I  knew  where  to  make  application 
without  cm-ins;  offence,  I  think  I  have  some  reason  to  complain  that  the 
Church  here  is"  so  much  neglected  as  that  the  Governor  and  those  who  are 
truly  well  affected  to  our"  Sovereign  Lord  King  George,  and  his  Royal 
Family,  cannot  decently  attend  the  publick  worship.  The  Bishop  of  London 
very  well  knows  my  sentiments  on  this  matter,  and  I  must  entreat  that  you 


94  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections, 

will  be  pleased  to  assure  the  Society  that  his  Majesty  has  not  a  servant  in 
America  who  is  more  heartily  disposed  than  I  am  to  rectify  abuses  of  this 
matter. 

"  Sir,  your  most  obedient  Humble  Servant, 

"W.  Keith." 


[Extract  from  a  Memorial  of  Peter  Evans  to  the  Bishop  of  London.] 

"  But  more  especially  for  your  Lordship's  goodness  in  communicating  your 
thoughts  concerning  the  Church  Vestry  of  Philadelphia,  of  which  Vestry 
your  Lordship  had  received  some  disagreeable  account.  Your  memorialist, 
as  one  (though  unworthy)  of  the  said  Vestry,  humbly  begs  leave  to  give 
your  Lordship  a  true  information  of  the  said  Vestry's  conduct  towards  Dr. 
Welton,  who  at  his  arrival  there,  about  June  1724,  was  a  stranger,  and  his 
coming  altogether  unknown  to  every  of  them.  The  circumstances  of  the 
Church  there  being  not  a  little  melancholy  at  that  time,  for  that  being 
destitute  of  a  Minister  no  Divine  Service  had  been  performed  there  for  some 
months  before,  an«d  a  numerous  congregation  which  if  kept  together  were 
not  only  able  but  willing  to  raise  a  handsome  support  for  a  Missionary  which 
was  daily  expected  from  your  Lordship. 

"  But  the  Church  doors  being  shut,  it  was  evident  the  congregation  would 
soon  dwindle,  and  be  captivated  among  the  many  Dissenting  Teachers  in 
that  growing  city,  and  render  them  unable  to  perform  their  promises  to  your 
Lordship.  To  prevent  which  inconvenience  several  members  of  the  Vestry 
met,  and  being  well  assured  by  some  persons  of  the  Doctor's  acquaintance, 
that  he  was  esteemed  an  orthodox  minister,  and  it  appearing  by  several  Eng- 
lish printed  newspapers  that  the  Doctor  had  there  lately  taken  the  oaths,  and 
conformed  to  the  Government,*  but  had  been  deprived  of  his  living,  several 
members  of  the  Vestry  asked  the  Doctor  to  officiate  until  such  time  as  they 
were  favoured  with  a  Missionary  from  your  Lordship,  which  he  readily 
granted,  and  the  Church  doors  were  opened,  and  for  that  reason,  and  from 
the  character  of  the  Doctor's  preaching,  the  congregation  resorted  to  hear 
him. 

"  Your  memorialist  hopes  your  Lordship  will  be  induced  to  believe  their 
zeal  for  the  Church  (and  not  for  any  mistaken  principles  of  the  Doctor's)  was 
the  true  cause  of  their  frequenting  the  Church.  Your  memorialist,  from  his 
knowledge  of  and  acquaintance  with  the  people  there  for  twenty-two  years 
past,  does  believe  it  a  piece  of  injustice  to  insinuate  them  as  disaffected  to  his 
Majesty,  for  your  memorialist  well  knows  that  every  member  of  the  Vestry 
and  all  others  of  the  congregation  to  whom  it  was  tendered  have  conformed 
to  the  Laws,  and  given  all  the  proofs  of  their  Loyalty  to  his  Majesty  that  is 
in  their  power. 

"  But  for  his  and  their  defence  against  the  information  of  Sir  William 
Keith,  your  memorialist  begs  leave  (and  he  hopes  in  case  of  self-defence  and 

*  This  was  probably  an  unfounded  report. — B.F. 


Keith  and  Talbot.  95 

preservation  lie  may  be  allowed)  to  observe  to  your  Lordship  that  Sir  William 
Keith  has  not  been  so  happy  in  his  conduct,  or  sincere  in  his  relations  as  to 
acquire  undoubted  credit,  as  appears  from  the  following  Paragraph  (taken 
out  of  the  Lords'  proceedings  against  him  for  being  concerned  in  the  Scottish 
conspiracy  Anno  1 Y03),  viz. :  'It  was  declared  by  the  Lords,  spiritual  and 
temporal,  in  Parliament  assembled,  that  Mr.  William  Keith  (upon  his  exami- 
nation by  the  Lords  appointed  to  examine  him  by  this  House)  hath  prevari- 
cated with  this  House,  and  by  his  behaviour  doth  not  seem  an  object  worthy 
of  his  Majesty's  mercy.' 

"  Your*  memorialist  humbly  begs  leave  to  observe  to  your  Lordship  in 
vindication  of  himself  and  the  said  Vestry,  that  the  said  Sir  William  has  for 
some  years  been  elected  member  of  the  said  Vestry,  but  taking  upon  him  to 
overrule  them,  and  entirely  depriving  them  of  the  freedom  justly  due,  he  was 
left  out  of  the  Vestry  in  the  time  of  Mr.  Vicary,  the  last  settled  Missionary 
amongst  us  from  your  Lordship's  predecessors,  which  was  about  three  years 
ago,  and  from  that  time  seemed  displeased  with  the  Vestry,  and  withdrew 
his  subscription  from  Mr.  Vicary,  to  whom  the  Vestry  shewed  all  due 
regard.'' 


The  Rev.  William  Becket,  Misssionary  at  Lewes,  Pa.  (now  Delaware), 
writes  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  under  date 
of  March  13,  a.  d.  1727.  In  this  letter  he  mentions  Dr.  Welton  incidentally, 
as  if  it  were  commonly  known  at  that  period  that  he  was  a  non-juror  while 
officiating  in  Philadelphia.  Mr.  B.  was  complaining  that  marriage  licenses 
were  given  by  the  Governor  to  those  who  had  no  right  to  them,  and  specially 
charges  Sir  William  Keith  with  having  granted  them  "  when  Dr.  Welton, 
the  non-juror,  was  minister  of  Philadelphia,  to  whom  it  was-  not  fitting  to 
grant  them." 


[Extract  from  the  Fulham  Manuscripts.] 

"  Queries  to  be  answered  by  the  persons  who  were  Commissaries  to  my 
Predecessor : 

"  Mr.  ,  Minister  of  ,  Philadelphia, 

is  desired  to  answer  these  queries : 

****** 
****** 

"  3.  Does  any  Clergyman  officiate  who  has  not  the  Bishop's  License  for 
that  Government  ?" 

"A.  One  only  at  present,  Dr.  Welton  at  Philadelphia,  with  whom  we 


96  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

have  no  correspondence  nor  of  whom  have  we  any  further  knowledge  hut 
that  we  hear  he  professes  to  have  come  into  these  parts  only  to  see  the  coun- 

These  queries  were  signed  hy 

Bohert  Weyman,  Missionary  at  Oxford  and  Whitemarsh,  Pa. 
'  William  Beckett         "  "  Lewes,  Pa.,  now  Delaware. 

George  Ross  "  "  New  Castle,  " 

John  Humphreys        "  "  Chester,  Concord,  &  Markershook,  Pa» 


{Letter  from  Fulham  MSS.  of  Mr.  Glentworth  to  Mr.  Cummings.] 

"  February  14,  1725-6. 
•"Sir: 

"  I  came  from  Philadelphia  the  4th  day  of  December,  at 
■which  time  Dr.  Welton  officiated  in  the  Church  every  Sunday,  once  at  least, 
but  generally  twice,  and  likewise  on  Wednesdays,  Fridays,  and  Saturdays. 

"  The  order  to  recall  him  went  over  in  one  Captain  Richmond,  who  sailed 
the  beginning  of  December,  and  can  hardly  be  arrived  there  by  this  time. 
"  I  am,  Sir, 

"  Your  most  humble  servant, 

"Thomas  Glentworth." 


Sir  William  Keith  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London. 

"  Philadelphia,  April  8th,  1726. 
"  My  Lord  : 

"  I  am  glad  to  acknowledge  the  great  honour  your  Lordship 
was  pleased  to  do  me  by  your  letter  dated  last  June,  which  I  received  some 
lime  ago,  and  am  glad  that  by  your  Lordship's  great  care  I  can  now  answer 
it  so  effectually  as  to  acquaint  you  that  I  have  by  this  conveyance  returned  an 
authentic  certificate  unto  my  Lord  Townsend's  office,  of  Dr.  Welton's  having 
been  duly  served  with  his  Majesty's  Writ  of  Privy  Seal,  commanding  him 
upon  his  allegiance  to  return  to  Great  Britain  forthwith ;  in  pursuance  of 
which  Order,  the  Doctor  did  us  the  favour  about  four  weeks  ago  to  depart  for 
Europe  by  the  way  of  Lisbon,  so  that  I  doubt  not  but  your  Lordship  will 
now  more  easily  find  a  way  to  supply  this  Church  with  a  suitable  Incumbent, 
and  as  the  people's  hopes  are  generally  placed  on  your  Lordship's  pious  care 
for  that  purpose,  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  any  gentleman  who  comes  over 
recommended  by  your  Lordship  will  be  handsomely  received." 


Keith  and  Talbot.  9*7 


Mr.  Cummings  to  the  Bishop  of  London. 

[Extract.] 

"  Philadelphia,  October  19th,  1726. 
"  Mr  Lord  : 

"  I  have  been  here  so  short  a  time  that  all  the  account  I  can 
oive  of  the  place  as  yet  is,  that  the  soil  and  clime  seem  to  be  better  and  more 
regular  than  the  temper  of  the  people;  however,  I  have  been  very  well 
received  by  those  of  any  note,  and  am  in  a  particular  manner  obliged  to  Mr. 
Moore,  our  Collector  ;  he  is  a  sober  and  pious  man,  and  has  all  along  endea- 
voured to  support  the  Church,  in  opposition  both  to  Welton's  and  the 
principles  of  the  other  Schismaticks  and  Sectaries,  which  are  indeed  here  very 
numerous.  I  hope  in  a  little  time,  by  proper  and  moderate  methods,  to  cancel 
all  the  bad  impressions  the  angry  Doctor  had  given  of  his  successor.  Your 
Lordship  will  observe  by  his  favourite  sermon,  printed  here,  in  what  a  scur- 
rilous manner  he  falls  foul  upon  all  the  Clergy  of  the  present  Establishment, 
charo-ing  the  people  that  as  they  tendered  their  salvation  not  to  receive  but 
reject  any  that  should  be  sent  among  them.  He  is  now  in  Lisbon  ;  'tis  well 
if  he  beii't  got  into  the  Convent.  I  ha'nt  seen  all  the  Clergy  of  this  province 
as  yet,  but  have  heard  a  good  character  of  them  all.  I  have  been  importuned 
by  numbers  of  people  from  Burlington  and  by  some  of  this  province  to  write 
to  your  Lordship  in  favour  of  Dr.  Talbot;  they  made  me  promise  to  mention 
him,  otherwise  I  would  not  presume  to  do  it.  He  is  universally  beloved,  even 
by  the  Dissenters  here,  and  has  done  a  great  deal  of  good.  Welton  and  he 
had  differed  and  broke  off  correspondence,  by  reason  of  the  rash  chimerical 
projects  of  the  former  long  before  the  Government  took  notice  of  them.  If 
he  were  connived  at  and  could  be  assisted  by  the  Society  (for  I  am  told  the 
old  man's  circumstances  are  very  mean),  he  promises  by  his  friends  to  be 
peaceable  and  easy,  and  to  do  all  the  good  he  can  for  the  future." 


[Extract  of  a  letter  from  Commissary  Chris.  Wilkinson  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  dated 
at  "  Chester  River,  in  Queen  Ann's  County,  Maryland,  June  15,  1726."] 

—  "I  understood  Dr.  TVelton  has  left  Philadelphia  and  is  gone  for  Lisbon. 
He  and  the  rest  of  the  non-jurors  disagreed  very  much  among  themselves, 
in  so  much  that  they  avoided  one  another's  company.  Mr.  Talbot  and  Mr. 
Smith  (who  also  differ  very  much  in  their  sentiments  of  submission  to  our 
established  Government)  have  been  with  us  in  Maryland.  They  behaved 
themselves  verv  modestly,  avoided  talking  very  much,  and  resolved  to  submit 
quietly  to  the  orders  sent  from  England  to  prohibit  their  public  officiating  in 
any  of  the  Churches,  or  to  set  up  separate  meetings." 


98  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Dr.  Welton  appears  not  to  have  returned  to  England,  but  to  have  died 
in  Lisbon. 

By  reference  to  the  letters  of  Mr.  Talbot  during  the  year  1725,  it  will 
be  seen  that  he  was  discharged  from  the  Society's  employment  for  alleged 
Jacobinism.  It  will  be  observed  that  he  does  not  deny  having  received  Epis- 
copal Orders. 

The  late  venerable  Bishop  White  related  a  tradition  which  has  been  pre- 
served by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks  in  his  History  of  the  Church  in  Maryland.  As 
it  is  an  important  link  in  the  present  inquiry,  it  is  quoted  in  full,  as  it  appears 
in  the  above  work,  p.  185. 

"  The  venerable  prelate  who  was  so  long  our  presiding  bishop,  was  accus- 
tomed to  relate  a  story  which  he  heard  from  his  elder  brethren,  when  he  was 
but  a  youth,  and  it  may  here  be  most  appropriately  preserved.  The  story 
was  this  :  A  gentleman  who  had  been  ordained  among  the  Congregation- 
alists  of  New  England,  and  who  had  officiated  among  them  as  a  minister  for 
many  years,  at  length  to  the  surprise  of  his  friends,  began  to  express  doubts 
about  the  validity  of  his  ordination,  and  manifested  no  small  trouble  of  mind 
on  the  subject.  Suddenly  about  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  Talbot  and  Welton, 
he  left  home  without  declaring  the  place  of  his  destination  or  purpose  of  his 
journey.  After  an  interval  of  a  few  weeks  he  returned,  and  gave  no  further 
information  of  his  movements  than  that  he  had  been  to  some  of  the  Southern 
Colonies  ;  he  also  said  on  his  return  that  he  was  now  perfectly  satisfied  with 
his  ordination,  and  from  that  day  never  manifested  the  least  solicitude  on  the 
subject,  but  continued  until  he  died  to  preach  to  his  congregation.  It  was 
soon  whispered  by  those  whose  curiosity  here  found  materials  for  its  exercise, 
that  the  minister  had  been  on  a  visit  to  the  non-juring  bishops,  and  obtained 
ordination  from  one  of  them.  He  never  said  so ;  but  among  Churchmen 
it  was  believed  that  such  was  the  fact." 

Both  Perceval  and  Lathbury  state,  without  referring  to  any  authority,  that 
Talbot  took  the  oaths  and  conformed.  If  this  were  the  case,  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  explain  why  he  continued  to  be  deprived  of  his  missionary  appointment 
to  Burlington,  especially  as  he  was  willing  to  labor,  and  the  people  were 
anxious  to  have  him  for  their  rector. 

Thus  appears  to  have  ended  the  only  effectual  attempt  to  provide  anything 
like  a  Protestant  Episcopacy  for  America,  until  the  Revolution  having,  under 
the  Providence  of  God,  opened  a  new  door,  England  finally  granted  to  those 
whom  she  regarded  as  successful  rebels  what  she  had  previously  refused 
to  give  to  obedient  children. 


State  of  the  Church  A.  D.  1730-40.  99 

The  following  communication  is  from  Dr.  Bray,  once  Commissary  of  Mary- 
land. Its  precise  date  is  nowhere  given,  but  from  facts  mentioned  in  it,  it 
must  have  been  about  the  year  1740.  It  presents  a  view  of  our  condition  on 
the  Continent  at  or  about  that  time  : 

"A  Memorial!  humbly  layd  before  his  Grace  the  Lord  A.Bp.  of  Canterbury, 
the  Lord  Bishop  of  Lcftidon,  and  the  other  Bishojjs  of  this  Kingdome, 
Representing  the  present  State  of  Religion  in  the  several  Provinces  on  the 
Continent  of  North  America,  in  order  to  the  providing  a  sufficient  number 
of  proper  Missionaries  so  absolutely  necessary  to  be  sent  at  this  Juncture 
into  those  parts. 

"  May  it  please  ys  Lordships  : 

"Amongst  other  Reasons  for  my  Return  at  this  tyme  of 
Consequence  to  our  Church  in  America,  in  Reference  to  which  I  have  been 
happy  in  the  approbation  of  those  my  Ecclesiastical  Superiors,  to  whom  I  am 
more  immediately  accountable  in  things  relating  to  my  Mission,  there  is  one 
of  concernment  to  be  layd  before  all  your  Lordships  ;  And  as  I  humbly 
conceive,  the  Universityes  also  of  this  Kingdome.  And  it  is  to  represent  to  you 
the  present  state  of  Religion  in  Maryland,  Virginia,  Pensylvania,  the  East  and 
West  Jerseys,  New  York,  Road  Island,  Long  Island,  North  and  South  Caro- 
lina, New  England  and  Newfound  Land.  And  this  in  order  to  the  Propaga- 
tion of  the  true  Christian  Religion  in  those  Parts  at  a  Crisis  when,  as  many 
thousands  are  in  a  happy  Disposition  to  embrace  it,  so  Infidelity,  Heresy,  and 
Schism  seem  to  make  their  utmost  efforts  to  withdraw,  and  to  fix  those  people 
at  the  greatest  distance  from  it. 

"  I.  And  to  begin  where  I  am  more  immediately  concerned,  with  Mary- 
land. Here,  through  the  mercies  of  God,  and  after  many  struggles,  we  are 
in  a  fair  way  at  last  to  have  an  Established  Church.  The  law  for  New  Eng- 
land I  have  brought  over  along  with  me  for  the  Royal  Assent,  not  incumbered 
as  formerly  with  such  clauses  as  hindred  the  same.  And  thereby  is  provided 
a  maintainance  for  the  Clergy  of  forty  pounds  of  Tobacco  per  Poll,  taxed 
upon  each  Comunicable  person,  which  amounts  in  some  parishes  to  about 
eio;htv  pounds  per  annum,  according  to  the  Rate  which  Tobacco  has  borne 
these"  three  last  years,  though  that  is  higher  than  they  can  promise  themselves 
the  same  for  the  future.  But  in  fifteen  of  them  at  least  by  reason  of  the 
thinness  of  the  Inhabitants,  not  to  above  a  thyrd  of  that  value.  And  yet 
these  latter  parishes  having  built  their  Churches,  think  they  ought  to  have 
Ministers  as  well  as  the  rest ;  and  had  I  not  in  my  Parochial  Visitations 
given  them  good  words  and  fair  promises  speedily  to  supply  them,  I  fear  our 
Law  would  have  scarcely  passed ;  and  yet  how  to  make  good  that  promise  to 
them  I  shall  be  sadly  at  a  Loss,  except  the  Proposalls  hereafter  given,  may 
find  favour  with  y*  Lordships,  and  those  to  whom  you  shall  please  to  recom- 
end  them. 

"  The  Papists  in  this  Province  appeare  to  me  to  be  about  a  twentieth  part 
of  the  Inhabitants  ;  and  though  the  Quakers  bragg  so  much  of  their  numbers 
and  Riches,  with  which  considerations  they  would  incline  the  Government  to 
favour  them  with  such  unprecedented  Priviledges,  as  to  be  free  from  paying 


100  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

their  dues  to  the  Established  Church,  or  rather  would  fain  overthrow  its 
Establishment,  yet  they  are  not  above  a  fifteenth  part  in  number,  and  bear 
little  Proportion  with  those  of  the  Church  in  wealth  and  trade. 

"  II.  As  for  Pensylvania,  I  found  too  much  work  in  Maryland  to  be  able  to 
visit  that  Province  personally,  though  most  earnestly  sollicited  thereunto  by 
the  People.  But  there  passed  letters  betwixt  myself,  and  that  Church,  full 
of  the  greatest  Respects  on  their  side.  And  by  conferences  with  some  of  the 
Principall  Persons  of  that  Country,  I  was  fully  made  to  understand  the  state 
of  Religion  there,  where  I  think,  if  in  any  Part  of  the  Christian  World,  a 
very  great  proportion  of  the  People  may  be  said  to  be  Tsrayjxlvoi,  sive  dispo- 
siti  sj5  £w^v  aiwviov. 

"  The  Keithites,  which  are  computed  to  be  a  thyrd  part,  are  freely  such, 
and  so  very  well  affected  are  they  to  the  Interest  of  our  Church,  that  in  the 
late  election  of  Assembly  men,  ever  since  Mr.  Penn  came  into  his  Govern- 
ment ;  they  had  almost  carryed  it  for  the  Churchmen,  to  the  great  amaze- 
ment of  these  latter,  so  as  to  let  them  see  that  they  had  been  extreamly 
wanting  to  themselves  in  not  timely  applying. 

"  There  are  in  Pensylvania  two  congregations  of  Lutherans  being  Swedes, 
whose  Churches  are  finely  built,  and  their  two  Ministers  lately  sent  in  nobly 
furnished  with  £300  worth  of  Books  by  the  Swedish  King,  and  they  live  in 
very  good  Accord  with  our  Minister  and  his  Church. 

"  There  is  but  one  Church  of  England  Minister  as  yet,  and  he  at  Philadel- 
phia singularly  beloved  and  respected  by  his  People ;  and  they  do  most 
importunately  sollicite  both  from  thence,  and  from  other  Parts  of  that 
Province  for  more,  where  I  am  afraid  there  are  at  least  six  wanting. 

"  There  are  some  Independants,  but  neither  many  nor  much  Bigotted. 

"  III.  Adjoining  to  this  are  the  two  Colonies  of  the  East  and  West 
Jerseys,  where  they  have  some  pretty  Towns,  and  well  peopled,  but  are 
wholly  left  to  themselves  without  Priest  or  Altar.  True  it  is,  Mr.  Mathers 
from  New  England  seems  now  to  bestirr  himself  in  sending  both  there  and 
into  the  other  colonies,  where  he  sees  us  take  footing.  His  Independent 
Preachers  and  the  Quakers  are  very  numerous  in  the  Jerseys,  but  I  am  credi- 
bly informed  that  the  people  are  more  affected  to  our  Clergy,  could  they  have 
them.  The  Keithians  are  alike  affected  to  us,  as  in  Pensylvania,  and 
I  think  there  would  be  a  Reception  for  six  Ministers  in  both  the  Jerseys. 

"  IV.  From  New  York,  the  E.  of  Bellamont,  the  Governor,  writes  me 
word,  that  a  Church  of  England  Clergy  are  much  wanted  there,  and  there 
will  be  Room  for  at  least  two  Ministers,  besides  one  which  they  have  already  : 
the  one  to  assist  at  New  York,  the  other  to  be  placed  at  Albany,  where 
besides  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town,  which  are  many,  we  have  two  Compa- 
nies of  Souldiers  in  Garrison,  but  all  without  a  Preacher. 

"  V.  In  Long  Island  there  are  nine  Churches,  but  no  Church  of  England 
Minister,  though  much  desired,  and  there  ought  to  be  at  least  two  sent  into 
that  Colony. 

"  VI.  In  Road  Island,  for  want  of  a  Clergy,  many  of  the  Inhabitants  are 
said  to  be  sunk  down  right  into  Atheism,  the  new  generation  being  the 
offspring  of  Quakers,  whose  children  for  want  of  an  outward  teaching,  which 
these  Enthusiasts  at  first  denyed,  being  meer  Ranters.  As  indeed  the  sons  of 
the  Quakers  are  found  to  be  such  in  most  places,  and  equally  to  deny  all 


State  of  the  Church  A.  D.  1730-40.  101 

Religion.     And  here  therefore  there  will  he  work  enough  for  two  suhstantiall 
Divines,  at  least. 

"  VII.  Ronoak  lyes  betwixt  Virginia  and  Carolina.  It  is  peopled  with 
English,  intermixt  with  the  native  Indians,  to  a  great  Extent.  And  as  there 
wilt  be  occasion  for  at  least  two  Missionaries  to  be  sent  amongst  ym,  so  the 
Governor,  who  is  now  going  over  to  that  Colony,  being  a  very  worthy  gentle- 
man, I  dare  promise  will  give  the  best  Countenance  and  Encouragement  which 
shall  be  in  his  power. 

"  VIII.  The  last  Province  that  I  shall  now  speak  of  on  the  Continent  is 
Carolina,  a  very  thriving  Colony,  and  so  large  as  to  want  at  least  three  Mis- 
sionaries, besides  one  lately  sent  thither. 

"It  is  no  part  of  my  province  to  speak  to  Virginia,  it  being  under  the 
Jurisdiction  of  a  very  worthy  Person,  Mr.  Commissary  Blaire,  whose  abilities 
as  they  fitt  him  for  great  Designs,  so  his  Industry  has  been*for  some  years 
exercised  in  doinsj  uncomon  services  to  that  Church. 

"  But  the  gratitude  which  all  that  are  well  affected  to  Christianity,  do  owe, 
more  especially  the  Clergy,  and  above  all  myself,  to  that  admirable  Patron  of 
Ptelitjion  and  "Learning,"  Colonel  Francis  Nicholson,  the  present  Governor 
thereof,  forbids  me  to  pass  over  in  silence  those  Glorious  Works  which  he  is 
there  carrying  on  with  such  unusuall  application ;  and  which,  when  accom- 
plished, rnusf  render  his  memory  sweet  to  all  succeeding  generations. 

"  The  two  2Teat  Designs  which  he  is  now  so  intent  upon  for  the  Good  of 
the  Church  (not  to  mention  here  what  a  Patron,  or  rather  a  Founder  he  has 
been  to  it  in  most  of  ye  other  Provinces,  now  named)  are  the  Erecting  of  a 
Colledge  in  Virginia,  or  rather  an  University  for  those  Parts,  which  he  has 
almosthnished ;  and  the  settling  of  the  Church  by  Law  on  such  a  foot,  and 
with  the  Advice  and  Assistance  of  Mr.  Blaire,  in  such  a  Constitution  as  will, 
if  they  can  make  the  next  Assembly  sensible  of  their  own  Good,  reduce  the 
Clero-v  there  from  that  Servile  Dependance  on  the  Vestrys,  which  would  have 
frightened  all  men  of  worth  from  ever  coming  amongst  them.  But  the 
scheme  which  I  have  seen  these  Gentlemen  have  layd,  when  accomplished, 
will  render  that  Clergy  and  Province  mutually  happy  in  one  another. 

"  Considering  this^Governor's  late  Heroick  Actions  in  the  Conquest  of  the 
most  desperate  of  Enemies,  the  Pyrates,  who  were  so  infatuated  as  to 
approach  his  Province,  and  in  whose  Reduction  his  own  personall  presence 
and  valour  had  a  share,  almost  to  a  fault,  it's  hard  to  say  whether  Arms  or 
Letters  have  the  greatest  Right  to  Challenge  him  for  their  Generall.  But 
when  we  consider  "the  extream  Disproportion  betwixt  the  numbers  of  persons 
in  publick  Post,  who  are  studious  of  the  Good  of  God's  Church,  compared 
with  such  as  are  thought  serviceable  to  the  State  in  Arms,  it  ought  to  be  the 
hearty  wishes  of  all  the  friends  of  Religion  and  Learning,  not  only  in  his  own 
Province,  but  all  over  that  Continent,  that  he  would  never  more  expose  his 
person  to  such  Dangers,  wherein  should  he  fall,  in  all  human  appearance,  the 
Loss  would  be  Irreparable. 

"  Nor  do  I  think  myself  obliged  to  speak  here  of  New  England,  where 
Independancy  seems  to  be  the  Religion  of  the  Country.  True  it  is  since  a 
Church  was  opened  at  Boston  about  fifteen  years  agoe  for  the  English 
Service,  the  Congregation  of  Church  People  are  become  very  numerous  ;  and 
the   young  Students  of  the   College  are  sayd  upon   the   Reading  of  our 


102  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Episcopal  Authors  (against  which  they  are  narrowly  watched  by  Mr.  Mathers) 
to  become  not  so  ill  affected  to  us,  but  that  some  of  tbem  would  gladly 
receive  their  orders  from  the  hands  of  Bishops  if  they  could  ;  and  two  ofthem 
have  lately  come  over  hither  to  be  accordingly  ordained.  But  my  Design  is 
not  to  intermeddle  where  Christianity  under  any  form  has  obtained  possession 
of  the  Country,  but  to  represent  rather  the  deplorable  fate  of  the  English 
Colonies,  where  they  have  been  in  a  manner  abandoned  to  Atheism,  or 
which  is  much  as  one,  to  Quakerism,  for  want  of  a  Clergy  settled  amongst 
them.  And  I  think  I  have  one  remaining  Instance  of  such  neglect  in  this 
kind,  as  if  it  provokes  me  to  some  warm  Reflections  upon  our  Nation  (for  the 
Church  I  know  wants  power,  and  Riches  to  do  much  of  itself)  I  conceive  the 
occasion  will  bear  me  out. 

"And  it  is  with  Reference  to  the  last  Colony  in  America  that  I  shall  speak 
to  anything  at  present,  named  Newfound  Land,  near  whose  coast  we  were 
drove  in  my  voyage  to  Maryland  ;  and  I  could  have  been  very  glad  if  with  the 
safety  of  our  ship  and  lives,  we  had  been  thrown  into  it,  that  I  might  have 
personally  seen  the  Condition  of  the  place  and  people.  But  this  Curiosity 
was  in  a  great  measure  satisfyd  by  the  account  I  received  from  the  Master  of  a 
Ship  on  board  of  us,  who  had  made  many  Voyages  there,  and  gave  me  this 
account  of  the  Island,  so  farr  as  it  is  in  the  possession  of  the  English  ;  that 
there  are  Harbours  in  it  belonging  to  us  26,  Families  274,  Inhabitants  as 
well  winter  as  summer  on  the  Island  about  1120,  workmen  about  4200,  ships' 
crews  in  the  Fishing  Season  3150,  and  men  in  the  ships  sent  at  the  latter  end 
of  the  yeare  to  carry  home  the  Fish  1200. 

"And  now  is  it  possible  to  imagine  that  from  a  nation  possessing  Chris- 
tianity in  its  Purity,  defecate  of  the  least  tincture  of  Dross  and  Corruption  ; 
the  sole  Tendency  of  whose  Principles  is  to  inspire  all  its  Disciples  with  the 
noblest  thoughts  of  Godj  with  an  ardent  zeale  for  his  Honour  and  Glory,  and 
with  a  boundless  and  unlymitted  Love  to  mankind,  a  Love  as  Extensive  as 
the  whole  World,  and  as  Intensive  as  that  we  have  to  ourselves  ;  Is  it  credi- 
ble that  in  a  Colony  of  so  many  thousand  soules,  who  are  all  of  them  natives 
from  England,  from  whence  our  shipping  do  sail  to  it  during  many  months  in 
the  year,  and  where  so  many  thousand  Families  abide  perpetually,  some  20 
years,  most  the  whole  course  of  their  Lives,  and  from  whose  trade  such  profit 
accrues  to  the  Nation  as  contributes  next  to  the  woollen  manufacture  to  turn 
the  Ballance  of  Europe  in  Commerce  on  our  side ;  can  any  one  believe  it 
when  he  is  told,  that  from  such  a  Nation,  with  respect  to  such  a  Colony, 
there  neither  was  or  is,  nor  is  ever  like  to  be  for  any  measures  that  have  been 
yet,  or  are  likely  to  be  taken  or  encouraged  by  the  Publick,  any  Preaching, 
Prayers,  or  Sacraments,  or  any  Ministerial!  and  Divine  Offices  performed  on 
that  Island  ;  but  that  they  should  be  suffered  to  live  as  those  who  know  no 
God  in  the  World  !  Are  Rome  and  Mecca,  whose  sons  are  so  apt  to  compass 
Sea  and  Land  to  gain  Proselytes  to  Superstition  and  Folly,  so  regardless  of 
their  own  people  ?  And  will  it  not  then  be  more  tolerable  for  that  Tyre  and 
this  Sydon  than  for  us  in  the  day  of  Judgment !  for  if  they  had  known  the 
things  which  we  do,  the  most  rude  and  uncultivated  of  those  Parts  which 
we  possess,  should  not  have  remained  uninstructed  in  the  best  Religion  in  the 
World. 

"  The  truth  of  it  is,  this  Indifference  of  ours  in  propagating  the  Religion 


State  of  the  Church  A.  D.  1 730-1 740. 


103 


which  we  profess  to  believe,  in  those  Parts,  where  as  well  our  powers  do 
enable  us,  as  our  Duty  obliges  us  to  take  some  care  thereof,  is  the  Amaze- 
ment of  all  whom  I  ever  yet  heard  make  serious  Reflections  upon  it. 

"  But  since  for  any  publick  Funds  that  we  are  ever  likely  to  get  for  the 
Propagation  of  Christian  Knowledge,  either  in  this  or  the  other  Colonies,  we 
may  complain  in  vain ;  and  the  only  hope  is  from  the  pious  Clergy  them- 
selves, and  such  particular  persons  amongst  the  devout  Laity,  whose  hearts 
are  inflamed  with  a  Love  of  God,  and  of  "those  souls  which  he  has  purchased 
with  his  own  Blood ;  I  shall  rather  turn  myself  to  you,  my  most  Reverend 
Lords,  giving  you  a  general  Estimate  of  the  number  of  Missionaries,  which  we 
hope  to  belupplved  withall  from  f  Paternall  Care;  and  as  there  will  be 
need  of  at  least  two  to  be  sent  to  Newfound  Land,  so  upon  ye  whole  it 
appears  that  there  are  at  present  wanting  no  less  than  forty  Missionaries  to  be 
sent  into  all  these  Colonies. 

"  And  the  necessity  that  they  should  be  both  so  many,  and  singularly  well 
qualified  for  the  purpose,  I  am  next  to  show  you  ;  and  that  there  shouldbe  at 
least  that  number  sent  into  each  of  these  Colonies,  as  I  have  now  mentioned, 
appears  from  hence,  that  even  then  their  business  will  lye  extreamly  wide,  but 
chieflv  for  tbis  reason,  that  there  is  so  great  an  Inclination  to  embrace 
Christianity  amongst  many  Quakers,  all  over  those  Parts,  where  Mr.  Keith 
has  been,  that  it  will  be  a  fatal  1  neglect  if  our  Church  should  not  close  with 
that  Providence  which  offers  so  many  Proselytes  into  her  Bosom.  For  I  am 
to  inform  your  Lordships  that  this  vast  accession  of  perhaps  50000  soules^  to 
our  Church,  if  not  speedily  secured,  will  fall  into  the  Independents,  who  bping 
aware  of  it  are  very  busy  at  this  tyme  in  sending  their  Ministers  from  New 
England,  and  those  maintained  too  from  thence,  which  makes  it  worth  our 
while  to  examine  whether  it  be  not  by  misapplication  of  a  noble  charity.  And 
the  Plantations  growing  now  into  populous  and  powerfull  Provinces,  with  all 
humble  submission,  in  my  opinion,  ought  not  to  be  so  neglected,  as  that  it 
should  be  indifferent  to  us,  whether  they  be  made  True  Sons  of  our  Church, 
or  the  most  soure  leavened  of  all  its  Enemies,  Independants,  Ana-Baptists, 
and  Quakers. 

"  Nor  is  the  necessity  less  that  these  Missionaries  should  be  singularly  well 
qualified  than  that  they  should  be  at  all  sent.  And  indeed  in  order  to  make 
the  better  choice,  agreeable  to  what  I  have  observed  of  the  State,  the  Temper 
and  Constitution  of  the  Country  and  people,  is  one  great  reason  that  has 
persuaded  me  so  soon  back :  and  ye  persons  which  alone  can  do  good  there, 
as  I  conceive,  must 

"  In  the  first  place,  be  of  such  nice  moralls  as  to  abstain  from  all  appear- 
ance of  evil,  there  being  not  such  a  calumniating  people  in  the  world  as  the 
Quakers  are  every  where  found  to  be,  and  it  is  the  most  fault  of  the  Planta- 
tions, that  they  give  their  Tongues  too  much  Liberty  that  way,  especially  if 
they  can  find  the  least  flaw. 

"  Secondly,  they  must  be  men  of  good  Prudence,  and  an  exact  Conduct, 
or  otherwise  they  will  unavoidably  fall  into  Contempt  with  a  people  so  well 
versed  in  Business  as  every  the  meanest  Planter  seems  to  be. 

"  Thirdly,  they  ought  to  be  well  experienced  in  the  Pastorall  Care,  having 
a  greater  Variety  both  of  Sects  and  Humours  to  deal  with  in  those  parts  than 


104  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

are  at  home ;  and  therefore  it  would  be  well  if  we  could  be  provided  with 
such  as  have  been  Curates  here  for  some  time. 

"  Fourthly,  more  especially,  they  ought  to  be  of  a  True  Missionary  spirit, 
having  an  ardent  Zeale  for  God's  Glory,  and  the  Salvation  of  men's  soules. 
And 

"  Fifthly,  of  a  very  active  spirit,  and  consequently  not  so  grown  into 
years  as  to  be  incapable  of  Labour  and  fateigue,  no  more  than  very  young, 
upon  which  account  they  will  be  more  lyable  to  be  despised. 

"  And  lastly,  they  ought  to  be  good,  substantiall,  well-studied  Divines, 
very  ready  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  able  with  a  sound  Judgment  to  explicate 
and  prove  the  great  Doctrines  of  Christianity,  to  state  the  nature  and  extent 
of  the  Christian  duties,  and  with  the  most  moving  considerations  to  enforce 
their  Practice,  and  .to  defend  the  truth  against  all  its  adversaries ;  to  which 
purpose  it  will  be  therefore  absolutely  requisite  to  provide  each  of  them  with 
a  Library  of  necessary  Books,  to  be  fixt  in  those  places  to  which  they  shall 
be  sent,  for  the  use  of  them,  and  their  successors  for  ever.  This  to  be  a 
perpetuall  Encouragement  to  good,  and  able  Divines  always  to  go  over  and 
to  render  them  useful  when  they  are  there ;  a  design,  of  whose  usefulness,  of 
whose  necessity  I  am  now  so  fully  persuaded,  since  I  have  been  in  and  know 
ye  wants  of  these  Parts,  that  I  am  resolved  to  have  no  hand  in  sending  over 
any  one,  the  best  Missionary,  who  shall  not  be  so  provided. 

"  Well,  but  the  great  quere  will  be  how  we  may  be  able  to  procure  so 
great  a  number  of  such  able  Missionaries,  how  to  maintain  them,  and  how  to 
furnish  them  out  with  such  Libraries  ;  in  order  to  all  which  I  crave  leave  to 
offer  these  following  considerations  : 

"  First,  that  the  Colonies  now  named,  consisting  chiefly  of  Quakers,  or  such 
as  for  want  of  the  Gospell  being  preached  amongst  them,  are  in  a  manner  of 
no  religion ;  they  are  in  that  respect  to  be  considered  as  so  many  Heathen 
Nations.  And  it  will  seem  unreasonable  to  expect  that  a  people  before  they 
are  converted  and  made  to  understand  the  goodness  and  advantages  of  true 
Religion,  should  be  induced  to  maintain  its  Ministry,  and  especially  in  this 
case  of  the  Quakers,  the  persons  chiefly  to  be  proselyted ;  who  above  all  other 
rights  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  have  been  deeply  prejudiced  against  the 
maintenance  of  the  Clergy. 

"  Secondly,  that  if  the  Missionaries,  which  shall  be  sent  into  each  of  these 
Colonies,  shall  be  well  chosen  and  duly  qualified,  I  am  persuaded  they  will 
find  the  work  of  God  to  prosper  so  well  in  their  hands,  that  in  three  years' 
time  the  people  will,  out  of  pure  Devotion,  subscribe  or  settle  a  very  plentifull 
maintenance  both  for  them  and  their  successors  ;  to  support  me  in  which 
Conjecture  we  have  two  veiy  eminent  and  late  Instances  :  the  one  in  Pensyl- 
vania,  the  other  in  Carolina ;  in  the  former  of  which  Mr.  Clayton,  who  at  his 
first  going  over  three  years  agoe,  and  whilst  his  Congregation  was  not  above 
sixty  persons,  had  scarcely  £50  per  annum  maintainance,  yet  upon  the  acces- 
sion of  new  Converts  to  upwards  of  700  (for  so  is  that  Church  increased  in 
three  years)  has  brought  the  maintenance  of  the  Minister  of  Philadelphia  to 
£150  per  annum  ;  and  in  Carolina,  Mr.  Marshall,  through  his  excellent 
Preaching  and  singular  conduct,  so  gained  upon  ye  people,  that  from  a  poor 
subscription  maintenance  at  first,  they  settled  upon  him  and  his  successors 
within  two  years  after  his  being  amongst  them,  what  amounts  to  £300  per 


State  of  the  Church  A.  D.  1730-40.  105 

annum ;  and  at  his  death,  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Province  were  so 
kind  to  his  widow,  as  to  present  her  with  £300  upon  her  Return  home. 

"  Thirdly,  I  conceive,  therefore,  that  in  the  interim,  and  during  the  first 
three  years,  it  will  be  absolutely  necessary  that  these  Missionaries  should  be 
subsisted  from  hence ;  and  it  shall  be  my  utmost  care  in  that  time  to  have 
them  so  provided  of  Glebes,  and  the  same  so  stocked,  as  that  they  may 
thenceforward  live  comfortably  upon  the  Emoluments  of  their  own  places. 

"  Fourthly,  the  method  by  which  I  would  humbly  propose  to  have  these 
Missionaries,  which  I  desire,  both  well  chosen  and  supported  from  home 
in  their  service  for  the  first  three  years,  is  as  follows  : 

"  I.  As  to  the  choice,  that  every  Bishop  be  pleased  to  pitch  upon  some 
proper  person  within  his  own  Diocess,  such  as  his  Lordship  shall  judge  best 
qualified,  as  aforesaid,  for  the  Mission.     And  then 

"  II.  As  to  his  support,  that  his  Lordship  having  subscribed  to  the  follow- 
ing Proposall,  the  sum  his  Lordship  shall  think  fitt  to  contribute  towards 
such  a  Design,  he  be  pleased  to  recommend  it  to  the  Dignifyed  and  others 
the  most  considerable  Clergy  within  his  Diocese,  and  they  to  the  well- 
disposed  Laity,  within  their  respective  parishes,  to  make  up  the  sum 
proposed. 

"  III.  That  the  sum  subscribed  for  each  Missionary  be  £50  per  annum  for 
three  years,'  and  as  less  will  not  be  sufficient  to  encourage  a  person  of  Learn- 
ing and  worth  to  undertake  the  Mission,  so  it  will  not  suffice  to  subsist  even  a 
private  Minister  in  these  parts,  where  every  thing  is  very  dear,  which  must 
be  bought  for  money,  and  not  bartered  for  by  the  product  of  the  country, 
which  no  Clergyman  will  be  Master  of  till  he  can  have  a  Glebe,  and  shall 
have  cultivated  his  Plantation. 

"IV.  That  the  subscriptions  be  payd  into  the  Arch  Deacons  at  their 
Easter  Visitation,  and  be  forthwith  returned  by  them  to  the  hands  of  the 
Bishop  of  the  Diocess,  or  to  such  person  or  persons  in  London  as  his  Lordship 
shall  appoint  to  receive  it,  and  to  pay  it  to  the  order  of  the  Missionary  sent 
by  such  Diocess. 

"  V.  That  besides  the  £50  per  annum  allowed  each  Missionary  for  his 
subsistence,  £20  a  year  be  also  subscribed  towards  raising  a  Library  of 
necessary  and  useful  Books,  both  for  himself  and  his  successors  in  the  Town, 
or  other  place  wherein  he  shall  be  settled. 

"  VI.  That  the  first  payment  of  the  £50  and  £20  be  advanced  at  his  first 
going  off  (which  I  could  'wish  might  be  before  Christmas  next),  that  so  being 
sufficiently  furnished  with  all  necessaries,  he  may  not  appeare  to  come  as  an 
Indigent  person  into  the  place  where  he  shall  be  appointed,  and  as  one  that 
is  to  have  free  quarters  upon  those  he  is  to  proselyte ;  the  Quakers  being  very 
prying  into  the  Condition  of  those  who  come  over,  whom,  if  they  find  poor, 
they  proclaim  hirelings,  and  to  come  over  meerly  for  Bread.  But  if  other- 
wise, they  have  been  found  at  a  loss  what  to  say  against  them.  And  to  be 
well  provided  at  first  will  succeed  the  better  to  the  advantage  both  of  the 
Missionary  himself  and  the  Church,  to  the  support  and  countenance  of  which 
he  will  undoubtedly  lay  a  good  Foundation,  who  coming  first  shall  be  happy 
in  his  conduct. 

"  And  indeed,  my  Lords,  could  we  but  have  such  men  as  by  their  reall 
worth  might  be  able  to  gain  the  affections  of  those  people,  I  do  not  in  the 


106  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

least  doubt,  from  what  I  have  already  found,  but  that  in  my  next  Visitation, 
I  could  obtain  large  Tracts  of  Glebes,  and  good  Houses  built  by  the  respec- 
tive parishes  in  Maryland,  and  the  Proselyte  Churches  in  the  other  Colonies, 
so  as  both  those,  who  shall  now  go  over,  will  themselves  in  few  years  be  in  a 
comfortable  condition,  and  their  successors  after  them  in  a  happy  settle- 
ment. 

"  And  as  neither  the  Clergy's  Condition  can  be  comfortable,  nor  can  it  be 
•properly  called  a  settlement,  till  they  shall  be  in  Houses,  and  on  Glebes  of 
their  own ;  so  now  is  the  time  to  endeavour  both,  or  it  will  be  too  late  here- 
after to  think  of  obtaining  either,  for  as  yet  land  may  be  taken  up,  or  had 
upon  easy  terms.  But  should  the  Plantations  continue  to  increase  as  they 
have  done  of  late,  within  seaven  years,  Land  will  not  be  purchased  at  treble 
the  Rate  as  now. 

"  For  my  own  part,  I  take  this  to  be  so  happy  a  Juncture  to  lay  the 
Foundation  of  lasting  Good  to  the  Church  of  God  in  those  Provinces,  that 
though  after  the  Expence  already  of  above  a  thousand  pounds  in  its  service, 
and  though  it  must  be  still  at  my  own  charge  that  I  can  again  go,  yet  I  shall 
not  make  the  least  difficulty  in  accompanying  your  Lordships'  Missionaries, 
which  from  your  respective  Diocesses  you  shall  please  to  send  into  those 
Parts.  And  being  therefore  so  little  interested  myself  in  the  Mission,  that  it 
will  go  near  to  sacrifice  the  remainder  of  my  small  Fortunes  to  Embarque 
again  in  it,  I  hope  I  may  with  a  better  Countenance,  through  your  Lordships' 
Patronage,  presume  to  offer  the  following  Proposalls  to  the  Very  Reverend 
Dignitaries  and  wealthier  Clergy  of  the  Church,  for  a  small  subscription  from 
each  of  them  towards  the  maintenance  of  those  Missionaries,  their  Brethren, 
whom  your  Lordships  shall  please  to  send." 


u  J>ro2)osalls  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Christimi  Religion,  and  for  the 
Reduction  of  the  Quakers  thereunto  in  the  several  Provinces  on  the 
Continent  of  North  America. 

"Whereas  severall  English  Colonies  on  the  Continent  of  North  America, 
now  growing  into  populous  Provinces,  are  however,  to  the  no  small  scandall 
of  our  Church  and  Nation,  as  yet,  destitute  both  of  Churches  and  of  persons 
to  Minister  in  Holy  Things,  to  preach  to  them  the  word  of  God,  to  offer  up 
the  Prayers  of  the  People,  and  to  administer  the  Holy  Sacraments. 

"  And  whereas,  to  the  great  Dishonour  of  God,  and  the  Destruction  of  a 
multitude  of  souls,  as  well  as  the  great  Scandall  of  the  Reformed  Religion, 
many  thousands  of  the  people  in  those  Parts  have  been  sadly  deluded  by 
Quakers  into  a  Total  Apostacy  from  the  Christian  Faith,  and  giving  them- 
selves up  to  the  Conduct  only  of  the  Light  within,  or  mere  Natural  Con- 
science, have  rejected  the  Holy  Scriptures  from  being  the  Rule  of  Faith  and 
Practice. 


Persons  Licensed  to  the  Plantations  from  1745. 


107 


"Whereas  again,  notwithstanding  the  strong  prejudices  and  great  obstinacy 
of  that  sort  of  Unbelievers,  yet  through  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the 
Labours  of  such,  who  have  hitherto  endeavoured  the  Reduction  of  that 
people,  many  of  the  Quakers  are  returned  to  the  Christian  Faith,  and  others 
amongst  them  are  so  staggered  as  to  doubt  that  they  are  in  a  dangerous 
state  of  Unbelief,  so  that  now  there  wants  only  under  God  more  Labourers 
to  be  sent  into  those  fields,  which  seem  to  be  white  for  Harvest. 

"And  Lastly,  whereas   we,  the   Clergy   and   others    of    the   Diocess  of 

,  in  concurrence  with  such  as  are  piously  disposed  in  other 

Diocesses,  being  sensible  of  the  infinite  mercies  of  God  towards  us  in  affording 
us  the  Light  of  his  Holy  Gospell ;  and  thinking  ourselves  obliged  out  of 
Gratitude  to  God,  and  Compassion  to  those  People,  who  are  not  yet  happy 
in  the  like,  to  provide,  so  far  as  in  us  lyes,  for  the  Propagation  of  the  same 
Holy  Faith  amongst  those  of  our  own  Nation,  though  never  so  far  remov'd 
from  us  into  Foreign  Parts,  Do  subscribe  the  severall  sums  to  our  names 
annexed,  to  be  payd  yearly,  at  the  Easter  Visitation,  to  the  Reverend  the 

Arch  Deacon  of ,  to  be  immediately  returned  by  him  to  the 

Right  Rev.  Father  in  God,  the  Lord  Bishop  of  this  Diocess,  for  the  mainte- 
nance, support  of,  and  to  provide  a  Library  for  such  Missionary  as  his 
Lordship  shall  think  fit  to  send  into  those  Parts. 


A  List  of  Persons  Licensed  to  the  Plantations  by  the  Bishops  of  London 
from  the  year  1745  inclusive. 


[From  the  Fulham  MSS.] 


AFRICA. 

M 

Philip  Quaque,  a  Moor 

ALBANY. 

May 

4 

1765 

Gold  Coast 

M 

M 

Harry  Munro 
William  Stanford 

AMERICA  IN  GENERAL. 

July 
July 

21 

8 

1770 
1775 

Went  to  Jamaica 

John  Jones 
Gideon  Castlegrave 
Thomas  Browne 

June 
Jan. 
July 

19 
11 

28 

1750 
1750 
1764 

108 


Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 


David  Fullerton 

June 

20 

1767 

John  Sayre 

Sept. 

29 

1768 

Now  in  Nova  Scotia 

Thomas  Fielde 

Aug. 

2 

1770 

Dead 

Daniel  BatWell 

Oct. 

16 

1773 

Myles  Cooper 

Jan. 

4 

1774 

ANTIGUA. 

Alexander  Grant 

Dec. 

21 

1748 

Robert  Monerief 

Feb. 

27 

1748 

John  King 

Sept. 

1 

1750 

William  Shervington 

Dec. 

23 

1753 

Henry  Byam 

Oct. 

20 

1754 

Samuel  Lovely 

Oct. 

3 

1758 

John  Bowen 

Dec. 

23 

1759 

James  Somerville 

March 

5 

1768 

Francis  Massett 

Sept. 

29 

1768 

James  Coull 

Dec. 

26 

1772 

St.  John's  Parish 

John  Shepherd 

March 

8 

1773 

Josiah  Weston 

Dec. 

21 

1774 

St.  Mary's  Parish 

James  Lindsay 

Feb. 

17 

1783 

Falmouth  Parish 

Samuel  Jefferson 

Dec. 

30 

1783 

St.  John's  Parish 

BAHAMA   ISLANDS. 

Richard  St.  John 

Sept. 

25 

1745 

John  Snow 

May 

26 

1746 

William  Duncanson 

Sept. 

8 

1760 

Dead 

George  Tyzard 

Jan. 

19 

1767 

Dead 

Richard  Moss 

Feb. 

16 

1767 

Dismissed 

John  Hunt 

Nov. 

4 

1769 

Dead 

James  Brown 

March 

15 

1779 

Providence,  went  to  Pensacola 

BARBADOES. 

Kenneth  Morrison 

Oct. 

21 

1745 

Thomas  Barnard 

Dec. 

22 

1746 

Robert  Braithwaise 

Sept. 

27 

1750 

John  Edwards 

Dec. 

26 

1750 

Edward  Brace 

Dec. 

28 

1750 

William  Duke 

Dec; 

21 

1753 

John  Shepley 

Feb. 

12 

1754 

Isaac  Hunt 

Feb. 

4 

1755 

Robert  Boucher 

Dec. 

21 

1756 

Thomas  Harris 

Feb. 

7 

1757 

Richard  Saer 

March 

17 

1757 

Wm.  Duke 

May 

21 

1758 

Jonathan  Downes 

March 

30 

1759 

Richard  Harris 

Dec. 

23 

1759 

Thos.  Duke,  a  Deacon 

June 

1 

1760 

License  endorsed  Sept. 

22, 176 

Thomas  Wharton 

June 

12 

1760 

William  Dunlap 

Feb. 

25 

1766 

William  Ferrill 

Aug. 

31 

1766 

Robt.  Boucher  Nicholls 

April 

5 

1768 

Joseph  Hebson 

Sept. 

29 

1768 

Persons  Licensed  to  the  Plantations  from  1745. 


109 


Benjamin  Spry 

Oct. 

27 

1768 

Michael  Mashart 

Jan. 

1 

1771 

Catechist 

Joseph  Hutchins 

June 

13 

1771 

Samuel  Dent 

Dec. 

26 

1772 

Christ  Church  Parish 

Henry  Quintine 

Feb. 

22 

1773 

Robert  Jackinan 

Dec. 

28 

1777 

St.  George's  Parish 

John  Duke 

Aug. 

24 

1779 

License  endorsed  Jun 

Hugh  Williams  Austin 

Aug. 

24 

1779 

Henry  Evans  Husband 

March 

14 

1781 

Francis  McMahon 

Sept. 

25 

1782 

St.  James's  Parish 

Henry  Evans  Holder 

Oct. 

28 

1782 

St.  Joseph's  Parish 

Timothy  Blenman 

June 

24 

1783 

St.  George's  Parish 

Hugh  Williams  Austin 

Sept. 

8 

1784 

St.  Peter's  Parish 

BERMUDAS. 

James  Holiday 

July 

15 

1745 

John  Danvers 

May 

9 

1746 

Alex.  Richardson 

June 

16 

1755 

John  Feveryear 

Oct. 

12 

1755 

Thomas  Lyttleton 

March 

30 

1767 

Now  in  England 

Benjamin  Blackburn 

Dec. 

27 

1773 

St.  George's  Parish 

Ludlow  Holt 

Feb. 

25 

1777 

CAPE  BRETON. 

Benj.  Lovell 

Sept, 

9 

1784 

Military  Staff 

CANADA. 

David  Cabran  de  Lisle 

April 

15 

1766 

Leger  Jno.Baptiste  Noel 

Veyssiere 

March 

5 

1768 

David  Francis  de  Mont- 

mollin 

March 

5 

1768 

CARRIBEES. 

James  Ramsay 

Nov. 

24 

1761 

St.  John's  Capisterrc 

William  Scott 

June 

29 

1764 

John  Syines 

Sept. 

21 

1767 

Benj.  Win.  Hutchinson 

June 

24 

1768 

Hy.  Erskine  Kirkpatrick 

July 

18 

1768 

John  Pogson  Crook 

March 

25 

1769 

William  Taylor 

Dec. 

24 

1769 

Thomas  Wilson 

Sept. 

22 

1771 

Did  not  go 

NORTH   CAROLINA. 

John  Reid 

April 

1 

1745 

John  Rowan 

Sept. 

21 

1747 

Robert  Cumming 

Jan. 

19 

1748 

William  Pow 

Jan. 

23 

1748 

M 

Alexander  Stewart      • 

June 

18 

1753 

M 

John  McDowel 

July 

5 
8 

1753 

110 


Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collection®* 


William  Fanning 

March 

25 

1754 

William  Miller 

March 

31 

1755 

Samuel  Laird 

Oct. 

12 

1755 

Daniel  Earl 

Sept. 

19 

1756 

William  Harrison 

Dec. 

21 

1756 

William  Teale 

Dec. 

6 

1762 

John  Barnett 

May 

2 

1765 

Bad^Mars 

James  Cosgreve 

Feb. 

25 

1766 

George  Meiklejobn 

March 

12 

1766 

Charles  Kupples 

June 

11 

1766 

Samuel  Fiske 

Aug. 

31 

1766 

John  Cramp 

Sept. 

21 

1767 

Hobart  Briggs 

April 

5 

1768 

James  Macartney 

July 

25 

1768 

Francis  Johnston 

Sept. 

29 

1768 

Henry  John  Burgess 

Nov. 

1 

1768 

John  Wills 

Jan. 

30 

1769 

Dead 

Theodorus  Swain  Drage 

May 

29 

1769 

Never  heard  of  him  after 

Edward  Jones 

May 

29 

1769 

Peter  Blin 

Sept. 

29 

1769 

Charles  Edward  Taylor 

Jan. 

1 

1771 

Now  there 

Nicholas  Christian 

Aug. 

13 

1773 

Nathaniel  Blount 

Sept. 

21 

1773 

St.  Thomas's  Parish 

Hezekiah  Ford 

Sept. 

29 

1774 

St.  Jude's  Parish 

Charles  Pettigrew 

March 

1 

1775 

John  Lott  Phillips 

June 

11 

1776 

St.  Margaret's  Parish 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

Alexander  Keith 

June 

26 

1745 

David  Garrow 

July 

15 

1745 

Bolton  Simpson 

Aug. 

26 

1745 

Robert  Beetham 

Oct. 

16 

1745 

Robert  Stone 

June 

30 

1749 

Jn.  Utrick  Geisendauner 

Sept. 

24 

1749 

Wm.  Langhorne 

June 

5 

1750 

Alexander  Douglass 

Aug. 

24 

1750 

Charles  Martin 

Sept. 

13 

1751 

Michael  Smith 

April 

14 

1752 

James  Harrison 

June 

22 

1752 

Robert  Barron 

Feb. 

2 

1753 

Alexander  Barron 

June 

17 

1753 

Richard  Clarke 

July 

16 

1753 

John  Andrews 

July 

16 

1753 

Jno.  Cheshire  Heyborne 

Aug. 

7 

1753 

Did  not  go 

Clement  Brooke 

Jan. 

29 

1755 

Jenkin  Lewis 

July 

5 

1755 

Winwood  Serjeant 

Dec. 

19 

1756 

Samuel  Fenner  Warren 

Jan. 

12 

1758 

Afterwards  My.  in  N. 

Er 

Robert  Cooper 

May 

1 

1758 

John  Tongue 

Sept. 

8 

1759 

Dead 

Abraham  Immer 

Jan. 

28 

1760 

Dead 

Joseph  Dacre  Appleby 

Persons  Licensed  to  the  Plantations  from  1745. 


Ill 


M 


Wilson 
Offspring  Pearce 
Joseph  Stokes 
George  Skene 
John  Green 
John  Evans 
Joseph  Edwards 
John  Hockley 
William  Lonsdale 
Paul  Turquand 
Charles  Woodmason 
George  Spencer 
Samuel  Ward 
Thomas  Straker 
John  Lewis 
Richard  Farmer 
Francis  Hoyland 
Robert  Purcell 
Thomas  Morgan 
Robert  Smith 
James  Pierce 
Saml.  Frederick  Lucius 
William  Jones 
Henry  Purcell 
John  Hinde 
Natlil.  James  Martin 
Christ.  Erust  Schab 
John  Yillette 
Thomas  Walke 
Haddon  Smith 
Edward  Jenkins 
Charles  Fredk.  Moreau 
John  Dundays 
Wm.  Eastwick  Graham 

ST.  CHRISTOPHERS. 

William  Topham 
Thomas  Jones 
Robert  Roberts 
Francis  Hoyland 
Delahay  Reece 
John  Clerkson 
Hnry.  Rubt.  Duckworth 
John  Roberson 
Wm.  John  Julius 
Wm.  Thomas 


CONNECTICUT. 

Matt.  Graves 

Richard  Clark 

John  Tyler 

John  Rutchers  Marshall 


Oct. 

I  26 

Oct. 

26 

Oct. 

30 

Dec. 

7 

March 

16 

March 

24 

June 

29 

Sept. 

12 

Jan. 

16 

April 

28 

April 

28 

April 

24 

Dec. 

14 

Jan. 

28 

July 

21 

Nov. 

16 

March 

26 

April 

5 

May 

29 

Oct, 

3 

Oct. 

3 

Nov. 

1 

Feb. 

8 

March 

31 

Jan. 

29 

May 

29 

May 

29 

Sept. 

2 

Feb. 

18 

Aug. 

22 

Aug. 

29 

Feb. 

8 

June 

6 

June 

11 

Feb. 

24 

May 

4 

Sept. 

6 

Dec. 

23 

Feb. 

9 

Sept. 

30 

Dec. 

26 

June 

11 

Sept. 

21 

May 

19 

Oct. 
Feb. 
June 
July 


761 
761 
761 
761 
762 
762 
762 
765 
766 
766 
766 
767 
767 
768 
768 
768 
769 
769 
769 
769 
769 
769 
770 
770 
771 
771 
771 
771 
772 
772 
772 
773 
773 
775 


1745 
1748 
1753 
1753 
1760 
1760 
1772 
1775 
1781 
1783 


1747 
1767 
1768 
1771 


Dead 

Dead 

Dead 
Dead 
Did  not  go 

Dead 

Came  to  England 
Dead 

Did  not  go 
Dead 

Dead 
Did  not  go 

Dead 

Dead 


Dead 

Came  home.  Prince  Frdk's  parish 

St.  Mark's  Parish 

Ashley  Parish 

Dead.   Prince  Frederick's  Parish 
Prince  William's  Parish 


SS.  George  &  Peter's  Parishes. 


Woodbury 


112  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

James  Nicholls  Feb.        3     1774  ]  Northbury  &  New  Cambridge 


M 
M 

M 

•M 
M 

-M 


Henry  McLeane 
James  Mcintosh 
Austin  Leigh 
Joseph  Miller 
Isaac  Mann 
George  Green 

EAST  FLORIDA. 

John  Forbes 
John  Frazer 
John  Leadbetter 
John  Kennedy 

WEST   FLORIDA. 

Samuel  Hart 
William  Dawson 
William  Gordon 
Nathaniel  Cotton 
George  Chapman 

GEORGIA. 

Barthol.  Louberbuhler 
Jonathan  Copp 
Samuel  Frink 
John  Alexander 
Edward  Ellington 
Alexander  Finlay 
James  Seymour 
John  Holmes 
John  Rennie 
James  Browne 
John  Stewart 

GRANADA. 

George  Bowdler 
John  Cumming 
John  Findlater 
Francis  McMahon 

GUADALOTJPE. 

Gaspar  Joel  Monard 

JAMAICA. 

Joshua  Peat 
Patrick  McCullock 


July 
Dec. 
Feb. 

Sept. 
Aug. 
March 


May 
March 
Nov. 
Dec. 


May 

July 

Aug. 

March 

May 


Nov. 

Dec. 

Nov. 

April 

May 

Sept. 

Aug. 

Aug. 

Dec. 

June 

March 


July 
Dec. 
June 
Sept. 


24 


Ausr.     25 


Sept. 
June 


1764 
1771 
1771 
1773 

1774 

1778 


1764 
1769 
1773 
1776 


SS.  Paul's  &  George's  Parishes 


St.  Augustine 

St.  Augustine 
St.  Mark's 


1764     Mobile 
1764  I  Pensacola 
1767 


1768 
1773 


1745 
1750 
1763 
1766 
1767 
1770 
1771 
1773 
1773 
1779 
1781 


1764 
1769 
1771 

1784 


1759 


1746 

1748 


Pensacola 


Augusta 

St.  George's  Parish.     Dismissed 

St.  George's  Parish.  In  England 
Christ  Church,  Savannah  Parish 


Persons  Licensed  to  the  Plantations  from  1745. 


113 


George  Evans 
Joseph  Stoney 
Henry  Caaffe 
Colin  Campbell 
Robert  Harris 
Robert  Atkins 
John  McAuley 
Isaac  Teale 
Anthony  Davis 
John  Ramsay 
John  Perney 
Michael  Smith 
Hadden  Smith 
William  Clarke 
John  Walcot 
Inglis  Twing 
John  Usher  Tyrrel 
Thomas  Pool 
William  Morgan 
Alexander  Robertson 
Middleton  Howard 
Richard  Johnson 
Philip  Anglin 
Peter  Miller 
Thomas  Bradshaw 
James  Steel 
Thomas  Simcocks 

st.  john's  island. 

John  Caulfield 

LEEWARD   ISLANDS. 

Matt  Towers 

MARYLAND. 

John  Houston 
Hamilton  Bell 
George  Cooke 
Alexander  Adams 
Richard  Brown 
John  Macpherson 
Thomas  Johnston 
Matthew  Harris 
Thomas  Thornton 
John  Ross 

Alexander  Williamson 
Philip  Walker 
William  Barrell 
Samuel  Keene 
Joseph  Mather 
Daniel  Maynadier 
Francis  Lander 


Jan. 

Nov. 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Jan. 

July 

Sept. 

May 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Nov. 

June 

Dec. 

Dec. 

June 

June 

Dec. 

Aug. 

Sept, 

March 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Oct. 

Sept. 

March 

April 

Sept. 


Aug. 


May 


Sept. 

Oct. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

July 

April 

June 

March 

Sept. 

Sept. 

Dec. 

March 

March 

Sept 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Nov. 


17 


1749 

1750 

1751 

1751 

1752 

1753 

1754 

1755 

1757 

1759 

1761 

1764 

1766 

1767 

1769 

1769 

1769 

1773 

1773 

1775 

1775 

1775 

1776 

1777 

1778 

1782 

1784 


1769 


26    1746 


1747 
1747 
1748 
1748 
1750 
1751 
1751 
1753 
1754 
1754 
1755 
1756 
1760 
1760 
1760 
1760 
1761 


St.  George's  Parish 
Clarendon  Parish 

Kingston  Parish 
Westmoreland  Parish 


114 


Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 


William  Dowie  April 

Samuel  Howard  May 

Samuel  Sloane  Dec. 

Thomas  Alkin  Feb. 

Benet  Allen  Sept. 

Henry  Fendall  Feb. 

Edward  Edmiston  March 

Thomas  John  Clagett  Oct. 

John  Porter  June 

John  Patterson  June 

Jeremiah  Berry  Dec. 

Daniel  McKinnon  Dec. 

John  Scott  March 
Jcb  Henderson  Hindman  Dec. 

Edward  Gaunt  Feb. 

George  Gowndril  March 

John  Montgomery  July 

John  B.  Gowie  July 

Thomas  Lendrum  Feb 

obert  Graham  Mnrcl 

James  Wilmer  Sept. 

Thomas  Reid  Sept, 

Hamilton  Bell  Feb 

George  Mitchell  Apri 

William  Duncan  May 

Thomas  Harrison  Aug, 
Walter  Hanson  Harrison  Aug. 

Robert  McKormick  Apri 

Thomas  Braithwaite  Jan 


MASSACHUSETTS. 

Willard  Wheeler  Dec. 

Mather  Byles  June 

William  Clark  Dec. 

Gideon  Bostwick  Marcl 

Daniel  Fogg  Auj 

MONTSERRATT. 

William  Blair  Sept. 

John  Symes  Sept. 

George  Young  Dec. 

MOSQUITO   SHORE. 

Thomas  Warren  June 

Robert  Shaw  June 


Edwin  Thomas  Sept. 

William  McHenley         '  Feb. 


2 

1762 

2 

1765 

23 

1765 

25 

1766 

30 

1766 

25 

1767 

30 

1767 

11 

1767 

11 

1768 

11 

1768 

22 

1768 

22 

1768 

25 

1769 

24 

1769 

2 

1770 

31 

1770 

23 

1770 

28 

1771 

2 

1773 

8 

1773 

21 

1773 

21 

1773 

28 

1774 

6 

1774 

29 

1774 

24 

1774 

24 

1774 

11 

1775 

6 

1776 

21 

1767 

29 

1768 

22- 

1768 

14 

1770 

19 

1770 

27 

1750 

21 

1767 

28 

1775 

24 

1768 

29 

1774 

11 

1747 

241 

1773 

Come  home 


Prince  George's  Parish 
St.  Paul's  Parish 


Somerset  Parish 
Stepney  Parish 
St.  Michael's  Parish 
Trinity  Parish 
Durham  Parish 
St.  James's  Parish 


Gone  to  Jamaica 


St.  John's  &  Thomas's  Parishes 


Persons  Licensed  to  the  Plantations  from  l5"45. 


115 


NEW  EKGLAND. 

Barzillai  Dean 

Nov. 

21 

1745 

William  McGilchrist 

Oct. 

10 

1746 

Dead 

William  Hooper 

June 

10 

1747 

Jerem.  Learning 

June 

21 

1748 

Richard  Mansfield 

Aug. 

11 

1748 

Jonathan  Coulton 

March 

26 

1752 

Ichabod  Camp 

March 

26 

1752 

John  Fowle 

May 

24 

1752 

Dead 

Edward  Bags 

May 

24 

1752 

Peter  Bowers 

March 

18 

1753 

John  Troutbeck 

May 

7 

1754 

Dead 

Solomon  Palmer 

Oct. 

20 

1754 

Dead 

Marmaduke  Browne 

Jan. 

29 

1755 

Dead 

William  McClenachan 

March 

31 

1755 

Dead 

Edward  Winslow 

.March 

31 

1755 

Dead 

Jolin  Graves 

June 

4 

1755 

Dead 

Christopher  Newton 

Julv 

28 

1755 

Samuel  Fairweather 

March 

25 

1756 

Dead 

James  Scovil 

April 

4 

1759 

Samuel  Peters 

Aug. 

25 

1759 

In  England 

James  Greaton 

Jan. 

28 

1760 

Dead 

Jacob  Bailey 

March 

17 

1761 

Nova  Scotia 

Thomas  Davies 

Oct. 

26 

1761 

Samuel  Andrews 

Oct. 

26 

1761 

John  Beardsley 

Oct. 

26 

1763 

Nova  Scotia 

Joshua  Wingate  Weeks 

April 

17 

1763 

Ejected  himself 

Roger  Viets 

April 

17 

1764 

William  Walter 

Feb. 

28 

1764 

Abraham  Jarvis 

Feb. 

28 

1764 

Bela  Hubbard 

Feb. 

28 

1764 

John  Lvon 

June 

29 

1765 

Dead 

John  Wiswell 

Feb. 

11 

1767 

Nova  Scotia 

Richard  C 

Feb. 

27 

1770 

Luke  Babcoek 

Feb. 

2 

1770 

Dead 

Samuel  Parker 

Feb. 

28 

1774 

Trinity,  Boston 

NEWFOUNDLAND. 

Benjamin  Lindsay 

March 

30 

1751 

Dead 

Edward  Langman 

Jan. 

10 

1752 

Dead 

William  Fotheringham 

June 

8 

1762 

Dead 

James  Balgoar 

June 

29 

1764 

Laurence  Couglan 

April 

26 

1766 

Removed 

Isaac  Hunt 

March 

4 

1777 

Trinity  Bav.     Never 

went 

Walter  Price 

March 

22 

1784 

St.  John's  Parish 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Moses  Badger 

Feb. 

23 

1767 

Dead 

Kanna  Cossit 

March 

27 

1773 

Haverill  Parish 

William  Aldington 

June 

11 

1  1775 

116 


Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 


NEW  JERSEY 

Thomas  Thompson 
Thomas  Wood 
George  Craig 
Samuel  Cooke 
Thos  Bradbury  Chandler 
Samuel  Seabury 
Robert  McKean 
Andrew  Moreton 
Agur  Treadwell 
Leonard  Cutting 
Nathaniel  Evans 
Jonathan  Odell 
George  Spencer 
Abraham  Beach 
William  Frazer 
William  Ayres 
David  Griffith 
Robert  Blackwell 

Samuel  Tingley 

Uzal  Ogden 

NEW  PROVIDENCE. 

Robert  Carter 

NEW  YORK. 

Joseph  Lamson 
Samuel  Auchmuty 
Epenetus  Townsend 
Joshua  Bloomer 
William  Andrews 
John  Stewart 
John  Doty 
John  Vardill 
John  Ogilvie 
William  Johnson 
John  Milner 
Harry  Munn 
Ephraim  Avery 
John  Bowden 
Benjamin  Moore 
Jas  Sayre 
William  Stanford 
Thomas  Lambert  Moore 

NOVA  SCOTIA. 

William  Tutty 
William  Anwyl 
Peter  Christian  Burger 
John  Breyntow 


March 

25 

1745 

Sept. 
Sept. 
June 

29 
1 
3 

1749 
1750 
1751 

Aug. 
Dec. 

20 
23 

1751 
1753 

April 
March 

26 
17 

1757 
1760 

April 
Dec- 

30 

21 

1762 
1763 

Sept. 
Jan. 

22 
19 

1765 
1767 

Jan. 

19 

1767 

June 

14 

1767 

Dec. 

21 

1767 

Dec. 

21 

1767 

Aug. 

19 

1770 

June 

11 

1772 

March 

8 

1773 

Sept. 

21 

1773 

Sept. 

23 

1749 

June 

10 

1745 

July 

20 

1747 

Dec, 

21 

1767 

Feb. 

28 

1769 

June 

10 

1770 

Aug. 

19 

1770 

Jan. 

1 

1771 

April 
June 

6 
30 

1774 
1749 

March 

25 

1756 

Feb. 

25 

1761 

Feb. 

11 

1765 

June 

2 

1765 

May 
June 

29 
29 

1774 
1774 

Sept. 

21 

1774 

July 
Sept. 

8 
21 

1775 

1781 

April 
April 
Jan. 

17 

27 
15 

1749 

1749 
1752 

April 

23 

1752 

Dead 

Removed  to  Nova  Scotia.     Dead 

Dead 


Dead 
Removed 


Dead 


Gloucester  County.     Dismissed 
St.  John's  in  Elizabeth  Town.  ) 
Removed  to  Maryland.        \ 
Sussex  County 


Dead 


Dead 
Dead 


Dead 

Dead 

Dead 

Come  to  England 

Dead 

Shenesboro'.     Refused  it 

Charlotte,  &c.  Precincts 

Fredericksburgh  Precinct 

Albany.  Mosq.  Shore 

Islip,  in  Suffolk  County 


Dead 
Dead 
Dead 


Persons  Licensed  to  the  Plantations  from  1745. 


117 


Joseph  Bennet 
Paulua  fiyrzelius 

James  Adam  de  Martel 
John  Eagleson 
Peter  de  la  Roche 
William  Ellis 

Nathaniel  Fisher 


PENNSYLVANIA. 

Philip  Reading 
William  Sturgeon 
Hugh  Neill 
William  Smith 
Thomas  Barton 
Aaron  Cleveland 
Charles  Inglis 
Jacob  Due  he 
William  Thompson 
Alex.  Murray 
Jacob  Duche 
Richard  Peters 
Samuel  Giles 
Hugh  Wilson 
John  Andrews 
Samuel  Magaw 
Walter  Chapman 
Thomas  Coombe 
William  White 
Bernard  Page 
Frau^ott  Fred.  Filing 
William  Stringer 
Thomas  Hopkinson 
Sydenham  Thorn 

QUEBEC. 

Lewis  Guerry 

RHODE  ISLAND. 

Thomas  Pollen 
George  Bissett 


John  Stephen 
John  Trotter 


John  Robertson 
Alexander  Campbell 
William  Yates 


March 
Feb. 

July 
March 
March 
Feb. 

Sept. 


April 

June 

March 

Dec. 

Jan. 

July 

Dec. 

March 

Dec. 

June 

Sept, 

Sept. 

Dec. 

Dec. 

Feb. 

Feb. 

July 

Oct, 

April 

Aug. 

Aug. 

March 

Sept. 

Ausf. 


April 


Feb. 
May 


Sept, 
Dec. 


Jan. 
Jan. 
April 


11 


30 


1762 
1767 
1767 
1768 
1771 
1774 

1777 


1746 
1747 
1750 
1753 
1755 
1755 
1758 
1759 
1759 
1762 
1762 
1765 
1765 
1765 
1767 
1767 
1768 
1771 
1772 
1772 
1772 
1773 
1773 
1774 


1775 


1754 
1767 


1764 
1768 


1745 
1745 
17451  Dead 


Annapolis  and  Granville.  Re-  ^ 
moved  to  Boston.      \ 


Dead 
Dead 
Dead 

Dead 

Went  to  New  York 

In  England 

St.  Paul's,  Philadelphia 

Christ  Chh.  &  St.  Peter's,  Phila. 


Went  to  Maryland 

Has  a  Church  in  Philadelphia 

Did  not  go 


Wyoming  Parish 

Junietta 

St.  Paul's,  Philadelphia 

Mispillion  and  St.  Paul's 


Dead 


118 


Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 


Alexander  White 

June 

William  Proctor 

July 

William  Coles 

Feb. 

William  Webb 

March 

Joseph  Simpson 

June 

John  Hindman 

Sept. 

William  Stuart 

Sept. 

Robert  Dickson 

Oct. 

Musgrave  Dawson 

Feb. 

Robert  Innes 

July 

Isaac  Campbell 

July 

Thomas  Warrington 

Sept. 

Roscow  Cole 

Jan. 

John  Smelt 

March 

John  Dixon 

Aug. 

Alexander  Cruden 

March 

John  Andrews 

April 

Richard  Locke 

May 

Archibald  Spencer 

Aug. 

William  Douglass 

Sept. 

Robert  McLaurin 

Aug. 

Adam  Menzies 

Dec. 

James  Fovvlis 

Dec. 

Peter  Davis 

June 

John  Ramsay 

July 

Miles  Selden 

Jan. 

John  Nivison 

Feb. 

Joseph  Bewsker 

March 

John  Brumskill 

Sept. 

Thomas  Smith 

Feb. 

John  Agnew 

June 

Thomas  Wilkinson 

July 

James  Pasteur 

Dec. 

Thomas  Davis 

Sept. 

James  Garden 

Sept. 

James  Craig 

March 

Joseph  Davenport 

Oct. 

James  Maury 

Dec. 

William  Meldrum 

June 

Rice  Hove 

Dec. 

Gronow  Owen 

Oct. 

Jacob  Rowe 

Feb. 

Robert  Read 

April 

Isaac  William  Giberne 

Sept. 

James  Craig 

Sept. 

John  Brander 

March 

Andrew  Burnaby 

April 

Alexander  Rhonnald 

Aug. 

Patrick  Lunen 

Dec. 

Joseph  Collinson 

Dec. 

Thomas  Price 

Dec. 

Richard  Hewitt 

Sept. 

James  Semple 

Sept. 

Arch.  McRobert 

Feb. 

James  Horrocka 

Nov. 

10 

1745 

1 

1745 

2 

1746 

16 

1746 

2 

1746 

22 

1746 

26 

1746 

22 

1746 

1 

1747 

6 

1747 

6 

1747 

21 

1747 

19 

1748 

28 

1748 

4 

1748 

14 

1749 

12 

1749 

13 

1749 

30 

1749 

24 

1749 

24 

1750 

28 

1750 

28 

1750 

11 

1751 

13 

1751 

15 

1752 

25 

1752 

2 

1752 

29 

1752 

2 

1753 

17 

1753 

31 

1753 

23 

1753 

22 

1754 

22 

1754 

31 

1755 

12 

1755 

27 

1755 

13 

1756 

21 

1756 

21 

1757 

13 

1758 

10 

1758 

30 

1758 

30 

1758 

11 

1759 

7 

1759 

25 

1759 

23 

1759 

23 

1759 

23 

1759 

30 

1760 

30 

1760 

25 

1761 

5 

1761 

Dead 


Dead 


Dead 
Dead 
Dead 
Dead 

Dead 


Dead 
Dead 


Dead 
Dead 


Dead 


Persons  Licensed  to  the  Plantations  from  1745. 


119 


William  West 
Leonard  Watson 
Jonathan  Boucher 
Archibald  Dick 
Devereux  Jarratt 
Richard  Collinson 
William  Buckham 
James  Maury  Fontaine 
John  Lyth 
Henry  Skyring 
John  Mathews 
John  Wishart 
Walter  Jameson 
Robert  Renney 
Thomas  Lendrum 
Townsend  Dade 
Charles  Mynn  Thruston 
Christopher  Mackae 
George  Goldie 
William  Hubard 
Thomas  Floyd 
Josiah  Johnson 
William  Haly burton 
Benjamin  Sebastian 
Lee  Massey 
James  Stuart 
Arch.  Aven 
William  Bland 
Thomas  Martin 
Thomas  Lundie 
William  Courts 
Samuel  Clug 
Arthur  Hamilton 
Walter  Macgowan 
Robert  Yancey 
William  Agar 
James  Stevenson 
Arthur  Emerson 
James  Thompson 
Charles  Clay 
Mathew  Maurey 
Thomas  Baker 
Isaac  Avery 
Samuel  Henley 
Alexander  Lunen 
Thomas  Gwatkin 
John  Kvnaston 
James  Herdman 
William  Selden 
Spence  Grayson 
Abner  Waugh 
John  WTingate 
William  Vere 
James  Ogilvie 
Daniel  Sturges 


Nov. 

24 

1761 

March 

10 

1762 

March 

26 

1762 

March 

26 

1762 

Dec. 

28 

1762 

Dec. 

28 

1762 

April 

17 

1763 

Oct. 

10 

1763 

Oct. 

10 

1763 

Oct. 

10 

1763 

June 

29 

1764 

June 

29 

1764 

June 

29 

1764 

July 

1 

1764 

April 

3 

1765 

Aug. 

13 

1765 

Aug. 

13 

1765 

Dec. 

23 

1765 

Feb. 

25 

1766 

April 

28 

1766 

May 

9 

1766 

July 

10 

1766 

Aug. 

28 

1766 

Sept. 

21 

1766 

Sept. 

21 

1766 

Sept. 

21 

1766 

Feb. 

2 

1767 

June 

24 

1767 

June 

24 

1767 

Dec. 

21 

1767 

June 

7 

1768 

June 

11 

1768 

June 

11 

1768 

June 

24 

1768 

July 

25 

1768 

June 

21 

1768 

Sept. 

29 

1768 

Sept. 

29 

1768 

Feb. 

28 

1769 

June 

7 

1769 

Aug. 

24 

1769 

Aug. 

24 

1769 

Oct. 

18 

1769 

Dec. 

24 

1769 

Dec. 

24 

1769 

Jan. 

5 

1770 

Aug. 

9 

1770 

Sept. 

23 

1770 

March 

11 

1771 

May 

29 

1771 

March 

11 

1771 

Sept. 

22 

1771 

Sept. 

22 

1771 

Sept. 

22 

1771 

Nov. 

11 

1771 

Gone  to  Maryland 
Did  not  go 


Dead 


Dead 


St.  Mary's  Parish 
Dale  Parish 

Hampshire. 
Norborne 


120 


Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 


Benjamin  Blagrove 

March 

5 

1772 

Elizabeth  City 

William  Leigh 

March 

16 

1772 

Shelburne 

Nathaniel  Manning 

March 

16 

1772 

Hampshire 

Robert  Buchan 

March 

16 

1772 

John  Braidfoot 

April 

25 

1772 

Peter  Muhlenberg 

April 

25 

1772 

Joseph  Messenger 

May 

7 

1772 

Stafford  County 

William  Hannah 

June 

11 

1772 

Culpepper  County 

William  Holt 

June 

11 

1772 

Amelia  County 

John  Bracken 

July 

6 

1772 

Amelia  County 

Francis  Wilson 

Aug. 

24 

1772 

Drysdale  Parish 

Saml.  Smith  McCrosky 

Sept. 

21 

1772 

Christ  Church  Parish 

Rodham  Kenner 

Sept. 

21 

1772 

Hampshire 

John  Hyde  Saunders 

Sept. 

21 

1772 

James  City 

Alexander  Balmain 

Oct. 

11 

1772 

Cople  Parish 

Jesse  Carter 

Oct. 

21 

1772 

Southampton  Parish 

Robert  Andrews 

Dec. 

26 

1772 

Wave  Parish 

William  McKenzie 

June 

6 

1773 

John  Campbell 

June 

6 

1773 

Stratton  Major  Parish 

John  McLean 

Aug. 

1 

1773 

Botetourt  Parish 

Thomas  Davis 

Sept. 

21 

1773 

Norfolk  Parish 

Thomas  Hall 

April 

6 

1774 

St.  Martin's  Parish 

Emanuel  Jones  J! 

Sept, 

21 

1774 

St.  Bride's 

Samuel  Shield 

Dec. 

21 

1774 

Drysdale  Parish 

John  Hurt 

Dec. 

21 

1774 

Trinity  Parish 

John  Brace 

March 

1 

1775 

Elizabeth  Parish 

John  Leland 

April 

11 

1775 

Wicomoco  Parish 

Christ.  Todd 

April 

26 

1775 

Brunswick  Parish 

William  Gordon 

June 

11 

1775 

John  Buchanan 

Aug. 

13 

1775 

Henrico  Parish 

James  Madison 

Oct. 

1 

1775 

John  White  Holt 

June 

11 

1776 

Russell  Parish 

ISLAND  OF  ST.  VINCENT. 

1  Thomas  Load 

Dec. 

28 

1777 

Parishes,  &c.,in  1724. 


121 


4  List  of  the  several  Parishes  or  places  where  Divine  Service  is  performed 
'  according  to  the  rites  of  the  Church  of  England,  in  South  and  North 
Carolina,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Connecticut,  and  New 
England  with  an  Account  of  the  present  Income  belonging  to  each  Parish, 
or  place,  'taken  from  the  Books  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  July  1,  1724. 

[From  the  Fulham  MSS.] 


Names  of  the  Parishes  and  Places. 


SOUTH    CAROLINA. 

St.  Phillips's,  Charlestown. — There  is 
a  house  and  glebe ;  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Garden  the  present  Minister    - 

St.  James's,  Goose  Creek.— A  house 
and   glebe;  the  Rev.  Mr.   Ludhim, 

Minister 

St.  Andrew's.— A  house  and  glebe ;  the 

Rev.  Mr.  Guy,  Minister    - 
St  George's. — A  house  and  glebe ;  the 

Rev.  Mr.  Varnod,  Minister 
St.   John's. — A  house  and  glebe;  the 

Rev.  Mr.  Hunt,  Minister 

St   Thomas's.— No  house,  two  glebes, 

money  allowed  oat  of  the  Treasury, 

now  at  interest  for  building  a  house; 

the  Rev.  Mr.  Hasell,  Minister  -         - 

St.    Dennis's,    a    French    Conformist 

Church. — No  house  nor  glebe;   the 

Rev.  Mr.  Lapiere,  Minister 

Christ  Church.— A   house  and  glebe; 

the  Rev.  Mr.  Pownall,  Minister 
St.  James's,  Santee,  a  French  Conform- 
ist Church.— A  house  and  glebe;  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Pouderons,  Minister  - 
St.  Paul's. — A  glebe  but  no  house  ; 
the  money  allowed  by  the  Treasury 
at  interest  for  building  one;  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Standish  lately  appointed 
Minister  there  - 

St.  Bartholomew's  and  St.  Helen's. 
Depopulated  by  the  Indian  war ;  have 
neither  Churches  nor  Parsonage 
houses;  when  they  shall  be  supplied 
they  will  be  allowed  each 


til! 


£     s     d         £      s     d 


00     0     0 


Besides  considerable 
perquisites  for  wed- 
120  dings,     christenings, 
funerals. 


50  0  0  80  0  0 

50  0  0  80  0  0 

50  0  0  80  0  0 

50  0  0  80  0  0 

50  0  0  80  0  0 

00  0  0  80  0  0 

50  0  0  80  0  0 

00  0  0  80  0  0 


60  0  0 


50  0  0 


0  0 


0  0 


122 


Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 


Names  of  the  Parishes  and  Places. 


s  oj  £ 

c-e  «    . 

03,     SB 

2.  c.2  — 


"  U  =  "2-S 


>,5o   . 
»-  o  ~  M 

c  5  *  — 


NORTH   CAROLINA 

Is  divided  into  several  precincts  or  pa- 
rishes, and  an  allowance  settled  out 
of  each  precinct,  by  Act  of  Assembly, 
of  about  £70  Carolina  money,  which 
amounts  to  about  £15  sterling.  A 
particular  account  of  the  state  of  the 
Church  there  is  daily  expected  from 
Mr.  Mosley,  a  gentleman  of  that 
country.  There  is  at  present  but 
one  Minister,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Newnam, 
who  supplies  four  or  five  of  the  pa- 
rishes by  turns,  and  is  allowed  by  the 
Society  ------ 


80     0 


About    £60, 

which     he    is 

supposed      to 

receive  for  his 

0  service. 


Not  known 
to  the  So- 
ciety. 


PENNSYLVANIA. 

N.B. — Twenty  shillings  this  country 
money  is  about  15s.  sterling.  No 
provision  made  in  this  government 
for  the  Church  by  the  Assembly. 

Christ  Church,  in  Philadelphia. — A 
handsome  parsonage,  and  the  minis- 
ter is  maintained  by  the  voluntary 
contributions  of  the  people  ;  besides 
which  there  is  an  allowance  from  the 
Crown  of  £50  sterling  per  annum  if 
it  can  be  recovered,  which  will  make 
it  a  comfortable  living.  There  is 
at  present  no  settled  minister ;  there 
is  no  allowance  from  the  Society. 

There  is  also  £30  a  year  allowed  by 
the  Crown  to  a  Schoolmaster,  which, 
with  the  encouragement  he  might 
meet  with  there,  would  be  a  hand- 
some subsistence  for  a  Schoolmaster. 

New  Castle. — There  are  three  Churches 
in  this  county,  viz.,  one  at  Newcastle, 
one  at  Whiteclay  Creek,  and  one  at 
Apoquinomy,  now  all  supplied  by  one 
minister.  There  is  an  estate  left  to 
the  Church  at  Newcastle  forever, 
worth  about  £20  per  annum  sterling. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Ross  is  the  present 
Minister.  There  is  no  glebe  or  par- 
sonage house  that  the  Society  have 
any  account  of. 

Chester. — There  are  three  Churches  in 


70     0     0 


00     0     0 


About  £48 
per  annum, 
Pensylvania 
money. 


Parishes,  dr.,  in  1724. 


123 


Names  of  the  Parishes  and  Places. 


5  e  ~'  = 

c  c  -  ~" 

<*  5 


this  county,  viz.,  one  at  Chichester, 
one  at  Chester,  and  one  at  Concord, 
all  supplied  by  one  minister;  there 
is  a  valuable  piece  of  ground  given 
for  a  minister's  house,  garden,  and 
other  conveniencies  at  Chester,  but 
the  house  not  yet  built.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Humphrey  is  the  present  Minis- 
ter   

Oxford. — There  is  no  glebe  nor  par- 
sonage house,  but  the  people  have 
promised  to  purchase  a  house  and 
110  acres  of  land,  and  £80,  that 
monev  has  been  left  for  that  purpose. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Way  man  is  the  pre- 
sent Minister,  who  also  supplies 

Radnor,  a  Welsh  Congregation,  about 
twenty-five  miles  distant  from  Ox- 
ford, who  are  very  pressing  to  have  a 
minister  reside  among  them,  though 
they  say  they  are  not  able  to  do  any- 
thing for  him.  They  have  built  a 
Church,  but  have  no  parsonage  nor 
glebe. 

Sussex. — In  this  county  there  are  three 
Churches,  all  supplied  by  one  minis- 
ter. A  great  number  of  people,  who 
have  subscribed  sufficient  sums  to 
the  minister  for  support  of  himself 
and  family,  so  that  he  may  lay  by  the 
Societv's  allowance.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Becket  is  the  present  Minister 

Apoquinotny. — There  is  no  glebe  nor 
parsonage  house,  but  the  people  have 
promised  to  provide  a  house  for  the 
minister,  and  to  contribute  to  his 
maintenance  according  to  their  capa- 
bilities. There  is  no  minister  there 
at  present       - 

Kent  County. — The  Church  here  has 
not  been  supplied  with  a  settled  mi- 
nister for  many  years  past.  The 
people  are  very  desirous  of  an  Epis- 
copal Minister,  and  promise  to  contri- 
bute according  to  their  abilities.  There 
is  no  glebe  nor  parsonage  house. 

The  Churches  at  Bristol,  Perquihomen, 
and  another  new  Church  lately  built 
in   this  Province,  being   but    small 


60     0     0 


60     0     0 


£      s    d 

Formerly 
about  £30 
per  annum, 
Pensylvania 
money,  and 
have  pro- 
mised to  in- 
00     0     0     crease  it. 

About  £20 
Pensylvania 
money,  and 
some  pre- 
sents of  pro- 
00     0     0     visions. 


60     0     0 


60     0     0 


The  sum  is 
not    known 
to   the    So- 
00     0     0     ciety. 

About  £30 

Pensylvania 
money  sub- 
scribed to 
the  former 
00     0     0     minister. 


124 


Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 


Names  of  the  Parishes  and  Places. 


c  5.2  = 


*< 


3  m 


>S£ 


congregations,  are  supplied  by  the 
neighbouring  clergy,  and  the  minis- 
ters of  the  Swedish  congregations 
there,  for  which  they  receive  some 
small  allowance  from  the  Society. 


NEW  JERSEY. 


N.B. — 20s.  money  of  New  York  and  of 
this  Province  is  about  13s.  4d.  ster- 
ling. No  provision  is  made  in  this 
Province  for  the  Church  by  Act  of 
Assembly. 

Burlington. — There  is  no  house  nor 
glebe.  Mr.  Talbot  is  the  present 
Minister  « 


Hopewell,  Maidenhead. — Two  Churches 
supplied  by  one  minister,  now  va- 
cant. There  is  no  house  nor  glebe, 
but  Colonel  Coxe  has  promised  to 
give  one  hundred  acres  of  land  to 
the  Church  at  Maidenhead 
Salem. — A  new  congregation.  There 
is  no  parsonage  house  nor  glebe,  but 
the  people  have  promised  to  make  a 
handsome  provision  for  their  minis- 
ter, who  is  the  Rev.  Mr.  Holbrook  - 
Elizabeth  Town. — The  minister  where- 
of also  supplies  some  neighbouring 
towns.  There  is  no  house  nor  glebe. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Vaughan  is  the  present 

Minister 

Amboy. — The  minister  whereof  also 
supplies  Piscatoqua  and  Wood- 
bridge,  two  other  Churches  in  that 
neighbourhood.  There  has  been 
lately  given  to  the  Church  at  Amboy 
some  ground  for  a  glebe  and  building 
a  parsonage  house ;  and  a  lady  has 
left  by  her  will,  for  the  use  of  the 
minister  forever,  a  house  and  land 
worth  £400  sterling.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Skinner  is  the  present  Minister 


Formerly 
about  £20 
60  0  0  00  0  0  per  annum, 
New  York 
money,  now 
uncertain. 


Small    and 
60     0     0         00     0     0     uncertain. 

The      sum 
not    known 
to   the    So- 
60     0     0         00     0     0     ciety. 


About  £30 
per   an 
New 
60     0     0         00     0     0     money 


per   annum, 
New     York 


About  £30 
per   annum, 
New    York 
60     0     0     00     0     0        money. 


Parishes,  d'c.,in  1724. 


125 


Names  of  the  Parishes  and  Places. 


o 


60 


CO 


NEW  YORK.  £       s      d 

Trinity  Church,  in  that  city. — There  is 

a  house  and  garden,  and  besides  the 

allowance  by  Act  of  Assembly,  the 

perquisites  and  presents  are  very  con- 
siderable, in  so  much  that  this  living 

is  computed  to  be  worth  above  £200 

sterling  per  annum.     There  is  no- 
thing allowed  by  the  Society  to  the 

Minister,  who  is  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vesey.        00     0     0 
But  the    Society  allow  to  a  catechist 

for  the  negroes  in  New  York  (the 

Rev.  Mr.  Wetmore)  £50  sterling  per 

annum,  who  is  also  an  assistant  to 

the  Rev.  Mr.  Vesey,  for  which  the 

people  have  promised  to  allow  him        50     0     0 

£50  per  annum,  New  York  money  - 
West  Chester,  to  which  is  annexed  East 

Chester,  Yonkers,  and  the  Manor  of 

Pelham,  all  served  by  one  Minister. 

There  is  a  house  and  glebe  of  twenty 

three  acres.     The  Rev.  Mr.  Barton  is 

the  present  Minister        -        -        -        50     0     0 

New  Rochell — A  French   Conformist 

Congregation,  part  of  the  parish  of 

West   Chester  aforesaid,  to   whose 

minister  the  people  are  rated,  so  that 

there  is  nothing  by  Act  of  Assembly 

settled  on  the  minister  here.     There 

is  a  house  and  glebe  and  one  hundred 

acres  of  land  let  out  for  the  benefit 

of  the  Minister,  who  is  the  Rev.  Mr. 

Stoupe  

Rye. — There  is  a  parsonage  and  glebe, 

and  to  this  parish  is  annexed  Mamaro- 

neck  and  Bedford,  where  the  minister 

occasionally    officiates.      The    Rev. 

Mr.  Jenney  is  the  present  Minister  -        50     0     0 
Richmond,  on  Staten  Island,  has  a  par- 
sonage  house  and   glebe   of    sixty 

acres,  and  Mr.  Duxbury  has  lately 

left  to  the  Church  there  a  very  hand- 
some plantation,  the  value  of  which 

has  not  been  certified  to  the  Society. 

The  Society  allowed  £50   sterling 

per  annum  to  the  late  IncumbenF, 

but  the  Governor  has  lately  collated 


100  N.  York 
money. 


The  amount 
of  the  vo- 
luntary con- 
tributions & 
perquisites 
is  unknown 
to  the  So- 
ciety. 


£50  per  an- 
num,   New 
York      mo- 
00     0     0     ney. 


50  N.York 
monev. 


50     0     0        00     0     0 


About  40s. 
per  annum, 
New  York 
money. 

Formerly 
£25  per  an- 
num, New 
York  mo- 
ney, now 
precarious, 
the  people 
providing 
fire  wood  & 
some  pre- 
sents. 
The  minis- 
ter says  he 
receives  no- 
50  N.York  thing  this 
money,    way. 


The  late 
minister  re- 
ceived none 
except  some 


126 


Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 


Names  of  Ihe  Parishes  and  Places. 


SB 


§■5" 
£  =  >•  = 
o  5.2  — 

^  o 
w 


bh 


go-, 
c  s  ©  • 

"  o  I, 


to  that  living  one  Mr.  Harrison,  who 
is  well  contented  without  the  So- 
ciety's allowance      -        -        -         - 

Jamaica,  on  Long  Island,  the  minister 
whereof  supplies  two  other  towns  in 
that  neighbourhood.  There  is  a  par- 
sonage house  and  glebe.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Poyer  is  the  present  Minister    - 

Hempstead,  on  Long  Island,  the  minis- 
ter whereof  also  supplies  the  adja- 
cent towns.  There  is  a  parsonage 
house  and  glebe ;  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Thomas  is  the  present  Minister 


£i     s     d         £>      s    d 

few    neces- 
40  N.York    saries     for 
00    0    0  money,    his  house. 


60N.York    Small    and 
50    0     0  money,    uncertain. 


60  N.York 
50    0     0  money.    Nothing. 


CONNECTICUT. 

N.B. — No  provision  is  made  in  this 
Province  or  Government  by  Act  of 
Assembly. 

Stratford. — A  congregation  supplied 
by  the  Society  for  some  time  past. 
There  is  a  Church  now  building,  but 
the  members  are  for  the  most  part 
poor,  and  their  contributions  to  the 
minister  precarious.  A  gentleman 
has  lately  given  four  hundred  acres 
of  land  for  a  perpetual  glebe  for  an 
Episcopal  minister  there,  of  a  consi- 
derable value.  The  Rev.  Mr.  John- 
son is  the  present  Minister 

There  are  several  other  congregations 
in  this  Government,  who  have  con- 
formed to  the  Church  of  England, 
and  are  ve'y  desirous  of  having  mi- 
nisters, particularly  New  Town, 
where  there  are  thirty  Communi- 
cants, and  the  Conformists  being 
the  major  part  of  the  Town,  the 
Episcopal  Minister,  if  chose  by  them, 
will  be  entitled  to  a  maintenance  by 
the  laws  of  the  country.  They  have 
laid  out  two  hundred  acres  of  land 
for  a  glebe  for  an  Episcopal  Minis- 
ter. 

If  the  Society  should  think  fit  to  send 
a  Missionary  to  New  Town  he  might 
also  supply  Ripton,  as  Mr.  Johnson 
might  Fairfield.  Two  other  Con- 
formist congregations,  those  of  Rip- 


60     0     0 


The       sum 
not    known 
to  the    So- 
00     0     0     ciety. 


Parishes,  &c,  in  1724. 


127 


Names  of  the  Parishes  and  Places. 


ton,  having  also  agreed  to  lay  out  a 
glebe  for  an  Episcopal  Minister. 


5-3  ■  • 

°  §  aj— 

rzH  ° 

<       o 

ED 


Ss  9    O    M 


>>g3  ■ 
152=5 
t>  s  * 


£     s    i       £     s    <J 


NEW  ENGLAND. 

N.B. — No  provision  is  made  by  Act  of 
Assembly  for  the  Church  in  this 
Province. 

In  Boston  there  are  two  Churches,  one 
called 

The  King's  Chapel,  of  which  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Myles  is  the  present  Minister, 
who  is  supported  by  the  voluntary 
contributions  of  the  people,  the 
amount  whereof  is  not  known  to  the 
Society.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Harris,  who 
is  called  the  King's  Chaplain,  is 
afternoon  preacher,  for  which  he  re- 
ceives from  the  Crown  £100  sterling, 
paid  in  England,  and  has  one  of  Sir 
Leoline  Jenkins's  Fellowships  at 
Jesus  College.  The  Society  allow 
nothing  to  this  Church. 

The  other,  called  Christ  Church,  lately 
built.  The  present  Minister  is  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Cutler;  he  has  an  allow- 
ance from  the  Society,  which,  toge- 
ther with  the  voluntary  contributions 
of  the  people,  is  a  comfortable  main- 
tenance for  him  and  his  family  - 

Newbury. — There  is  no  house  nor 
glebe  yet  provided,  but  the  people, 
by  voluntary  contributions,  pay  the 
minister  as  much  or  more  than  the 
usual  rate  was,  for  the  maintenance 
of  a  dissenting  teacher,  besides  which 
he  has  £60.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Plant  pre- 
sent Minister  - 

Marblehead. — There  is  no  house  nor 
glebe ;  the  voluntary  contributions 
very  precarious.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Mossom,  Minister   -        -        -        - 

Bristol. — A  new  settled  Church,  built 
by  voluntary  subscriptions,  and  the 
people  have  promised  to  contribute 
to  the  utmost  of  their  ability  towards 
the  maintenance  of  their  minister. 
There  is  no  house  nor  glebe.     The 


The  Society 
have  had  no 
account  of 
the  particu- 
lars or  gross 
60     0     0        00     0     0     sum. 


The  sum 
not  known 
to  the   So- 

60     0     0         00     0     0     ciety. 

About  £20 
per  annum, 
New    Eng- 

60    0    0        00    0    0    land  money. 


The      sum 
not   known 


128 


Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 


Names  of  the  Parishes  and  Places. 


o  a  Si 

2  o.£  — 
<      9 


P   7  in  O  n 
o  >>™  3  aj 


>§ 


Rev.  Mr.  Ussher  is  the  present  Mi- 
nister       60     0     0 

Providence. — A  new  Church,  likewise 
built  by  voluntary  subscriptions. 
There  is  no  house  nor  glebe,  but  the 
people  have  promised  to  assist  the 
minister  by  voluntary  contributions 
to  the  utmost  of  their  power.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Pigot  is  the  present  Minis- 
ter   60     0     0 

Newport,  on  Rhode  Island,  the  minister 
whereof  occasionally  officiates  at 
Tiverton,  Swansey,  and  Little  Comp- 
ton.  There  is  no  house  nor  glebe. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Honeyman  is  the  pre- 
sent Minister 70     0     0 

'Narraganset,  in  the  Colony  of  Rhode 
Island,  the  minister  whereof  also  oc- 
casionally officiates  at  Tiverton, 
Swansey,  and  Little  Compton  in 
conjunction  with  Mr.  Honeyman. 
There  is  no  parsonage  house,  but 
some  lands  laid  out  for  the  ministry 
in  general,  which  the  present  minis- 
ter, the  Rev.  Mr.  Macsparren,  is  en- 
deavouring to  recover  out  of  private 
hands,  who  have  gotten  possession 
thereof.  The  people  have  promised 
to  contribute  handsomely  towards  his 
maintenance,  and  to  provide  him  a 
house 70    0     0 


£     s    d 

to  the    So- 
00    0    0    ciety. 


The     sum 
not   known 
to  the    So- 
00    0    0    ciety. 


About  £40 

per    annum 

New    Eng- 

00    0    0    land  money. 


The     sum 
not    known 
to  the    So- 
00    0    0    ciety. 


Mr.  Whitfield,  concerning  the  Missionaries.  129 


[From  the  Lambeth  MSS.] 

[A  Copy  of  Mr.  Whitefield's  letter  to  the  Society  against  their  Missionaries,  November  30, 
1740  ;  and  also  a  letter  from  Dr.  Bearcroft  on  that  subject,  June  27, 1741.] 

"  On    board  the    Savannah,    bound    from  ) 
Philadelphia  to  Georgia,  Nov.  30th,  1740.  ] 
"  Honoured  Gentlemen  : 

"  I  hope  a  single  eye  to  God's  glory,  inclines  me  to  trouble 
you  with  this.  I  have  been  now  through  the  greatest  part  of  America,  and 
nave  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  state  of  the  Church  of  England.  I 
think  it  is  at  a  very  low  ebb,  and  will  in  all  probability  be  much  worse,  nay, 
at  last  dwindled  into  nothing,  unless  care  be  taken  to  send  over  Missionaries 
that  are  better  qualified  for  the  pastoral  office.  It  is  too  evident  that  most  of 
them  are  corrupt  in  their  principles  and  immoral  in  their  practices,  and 
many  of  them  such  as  covdd  not  stand  their  Trials  amongst  the  Dissenters, 
or  were  discarded  by  them  for  their  profaneness  and  irregularities.  Our 
Church  seems  to  be  their  last  refuge,  so  that  it  is  almost  become  a  saying,  that 
anything  will  make  a  Church  Parson.  None  but  those  who  are  here  present 
can  tell  into  what  contempt  our  Church  is  brought.  The  accounts  given  in 
to  the  Society  by  the  Missionaries  are  the  subject  of  common  ridicule.  I 
read  some  of  them  lately.  I  was  ashamed  to  see  how  the  nation  was 
imposed  on,  and  therefore  thought  it  my  duty  to  inform  you  of  it.  But 
perhaps  I  have  said  too  much  already  however.  I  have  delivered  my  soul. 
I  write  out  of  the  simplicity  of  my  heart.  I  leave  the  consequences  to  God, 
for  the  stones  would  cry  out  against  me  if  I  did  not  speak.  If  you  had  a 
mind  only  to  establish  the  form  of  religion,  sending  such  ungodly  despicable 
Ministers  would  render  even  that  ineffectual ;  for  though  the  Dissenters  have 
lost  much  of  the  power  of  Godliness,  yet  they  have  enough  left  to  shame  us. 
I  speak  not  this  out  of  prejudice  or  resentment,  for  I  am  as  much  opposed 
by  their  as  our  own  Carnal  Clergy,  but  I  do  it  to  prevent  your  being  imposed 
on  for  the  future,  and  to  entreat  you,  if  you  would  not  have  our  tottering 
Ark  fall  quite  down,  that  you  would  not  employ  such  unhallowed  hands  to 
keep  it  up ;  they  will  meet  with  a  Curse  instead  of  a  Blessing. 
"I  am, 

"  Honoured  Gentlemen, 

"  Your  very  humble  servant, 

"  George  Whitefield." 


"  Charterhouse,  June  27th,  1741. 
"  My  Lord  : 

"Mr.  Whitefield  hath  wrote  three  letters  about  the  Mis- 
sionaries, but  the  Society  would  not  answer  them,  the  two  first  directed  to  the 
Secretary,  and  the  last  directed  immediately  to  the  Society,  which  is  so 
extraordinary  an  one,  that  I  thought  it  proper  to  transmit  a  Copy  to  your 


130  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Lordship.  The  stroke  under  ungodly  despicable,  is  in  the  original,  though 
there  are  several  of  them,  I  will  venture  to  affirm,  as  worthy  as,  and  I  am 
sure,  much  more  regular  than  himself.  His  first  letter  was  levelled  chiefly 
against  Mr.  Arnold,  who  had  debated  with  him  in  Print,  and  the  single  fact 
charged  by  Mr.  Whitefield  on  Mr.  Arnold  is  this,  in  Mr.  Whitefield's  own 
words:  'He  hath  borrowed  four  or  five  pounds  from  one  Owen  Owens,  and 
said  that  Mr.  Cummins  would  pay  it;  when  the  man  applyed  to  Mr. 
Cummins,  he  said  he  knew  nothing  of  the  matter,  but  rather  than  have  Mr. 
Arnold  exposed,  he  paid  the  sum  for  him.  This  is  to  be  attested  by  numbers 
of  witnesses,  and  Mr.  Frame,  Brother-in-Law  to  Mr.  Proprietary  Pen,  told 
me  yesterday  the  Governor  informed  him  how  he  had  been  chiding  Mr. 
Cummins  for  not  suffering  him  to  be  pursued  and  apprehended.'  I  wrote 
upon  this  to  Mr.  Cummins,  the  Commissary  of  Philadelphia,  whose  answer  is 
this  :  'As  to  that  silly  story  which  you  tell  me  Mr.  Whitefield  wrote  against 
Mr.  Arnold,  'tis  true  his  giddy  admirers  made  a  noise  with  it  here,  but  with- 
out any  just  grounds,  for  Mr.  Arnold,  the  night  before  he  left  this  place, 
asked  me  to  lend  him  £5.  I  told  him  I  could  not  tell  if  I  had  so  much  at  that 
time  in  the  house,  but  desired  him  to  breakfast  with  me  next  morning  and  I 
could  then  give  him  an  answer.  He  was  obliged,  it  seems,  to  set  out  very 
early,  and  having  borrowed  the  money  of  Owen  Owens  gave  him  a  letter 
to  me,  desiring  I  would  pay  that  sum,  and  promising  to  remit  it  me  in 
a  little  time  from  New  York.  "When  Owen  came  demanding  his  money 
that  morning,  after  asking  him  a  few  questions,  I  found,  though  I  pro- 
mised to  see  him  paid,  he  was  ready,  and  I  doubt  not,  instigated  by 
Whitefield's  votaries,  to  follow  after  and  arrest  Mr.  Arnold  because  he  had 
dared  to  contradict  their  oracle.  I  therefore  directly  paid  hira  the  money, 
and  Mr.  Arnold  soon  after  very  honestly  and  without  my  asking  sent  me 
payment  of  it  from  New  York.  I  shewed  your  letter  to  Mr.  Frame,  the 
Proprietor's  Brother-in-Law,  before  some  Gentlemen  ;  he  affirmed  what  related 
to  him  is  false.'  I  may  perhaps  have  tired  your  Lordship,  but  have  mentioned 
these  things  as  they  may  afford  some  little  fight  to  Mr.  Whitefield's  full 
thoughts  about  the  Missionaries,  and  if  I  can  be  any  way  serviceable. 
"  I  am,  my  Lord, 

"  Your  most  obedient  and 
"  Most  humble  servant, 

"  Philip  Bearcroft." 


Letter  from  Mr.  Whitefield  to  the  Bishop  of  Oxford. 

"  On  board  the  Mary  and  Ann,  bound  fr< 
London  to  Scotland,  July  28th,  1741 


"  My  Lord  : 

"  Want  of  leisure  not  respect  has  been  the  occasion  of  my 
not  sending  your  Lordship  my  letter,  which  I  promised  some  time  ago. 
Being  now  on  board  on  my  way  to  Scotland,  I  have  time  to  write  my 


Mr.   Whitfield,  concerning  the  Missionaries.  131 

thoughts  more  freely.  I  would  first  then  observe  to  your  Lordship  that  you 
have  too  good  an  opinion  of  the  Missionaries  in  general  that  are  employed  by 
the  honourable  Society.  Your  Lordship  says,  p.  31,  'that  it  hath  been  pre- 
tended indeed  that  immoral  and  negligent  men  are  employed  as  Missionaries.' 
This  can  be  too  easily  proved.  I  could  mention  several  instances.  Whether 
this  be  from  want  of  care  I  will  not  take  upon  me  to  determine,  but  that  it 
frequently  and  commonly  happens  is  certain.  I  have  lately  received  a  letter 
from  Jonathan  Belcher,  Esq.,  late  Governor  of  New  England,  wherein  he 
writes  thus :  '  It  is  now  about  thirty-seven  years  ago  that  I  dined  with  the 
late  Dr.  Compton,  then  Bishop  of  London,  at  his  Palace  at  Fulham,  and 
there  were  several  Bishops  and  other  dignified  Clergy  at  Table ;  and  knowing 
me  to  be  a  young  gentleman  of  Interest  and  Figure  in  my  Country,  they 
urged  me  much  to  conform  to  their  Church,  and  asked  me  how  the  Church  of 
England  got  forward  in  New  England.  I  told  their  Lordships  that  they  were 
greatly  deceived  in  what  money  was  sent  hither  in  that  service,  for  that  the 
general  rise  of  the  Church  in  New  England  was  from  dissolute  livers,  such  as 
quarrelled  with  their  Ministers,  but  that  it  was  "  Rara  Avis  in  terris^  for 
any  man  to  go  over  to  the  Church,  from  a  principle  of  religion  and  conscience, 
or  to  improve  himself  in  a  pious,  serious  life ;  and  this  really,  Sir,'  adds  this 
worthy  gentleman,  '  is  the  case  of  this  country  at  this  day.'  I  hope  this  will 
have  more  weight  with  your  Lordship,  as  coming  from  a  gentleman  without 
my  knowing  anything  of  it,  a  gentleman  also  of  figure  and  good  report,  and 
who  declares  himself  unprejudiced  in  another  part  of  his  letter.  For  speak- 
ing of  a  particular  thing,  he  writes  thus :  '  Not  that  I  have  any  squeamish 
prejudices  against  that  excellent  Church'  (meaning  the  Church  of  England), 
'  although  I  have  been  born  and  bred  a  Dissenter ;  and  pray  what  do  we 
differ  in  doctrine  ?  Would  they  preach  and  five  their  articles,  there  would 
be  a  more  general  coalition  among  them  and  the  Dissenters.'  And  then  he 
afterwards  says :  '  From  long  observation  I  find  no  persons  going  off  from 
our  Church  to  that  of  the  Church  of  England,  who  thereby  become  more 
vitally  pious.  If  I  found  they  did,  I  should,  I  hope  from  a  wise  and  judi- 
cious choice,  immediately  conform.'  Thus  far  the  worthy  Governor  Belcher, 
and  indeed,  my  Lord,  this  is  too  true.  Those  at  a  distance  cannot  well 
conceive  how  contemptible  our  Church  is  abroad,  and  that  owing  to  the 
unworthy,  immoral,  and  negligent  lives  of  the  generality  of  the  Missionaries, 
several  of  which  have  come  over  to  us,  because  they  could  not  stand  tryal 
among  the  Dissenters,  or  had  lived  too  loosely  among  them.  Your  Lordship 
is  pleased  to  say,  p.  32,  'That  the  most  earnest  requests,  the  most  solemn 
adjurations  are  sent,  that  all  who  can  would  give  any  useful  intelligence 
relating  to  them.'  This  is  certainly  right  and  good,  but  I  fear  your  Lordship 
hath  been  misinformed  if  your  Lordship  was  told  that  great  regard  is 
always  paid  to  such  intelligence,  for  I  myself  have  sent  over  two  letters  to 
the  Honourable  Society  for  this  purpose,  and  no  regard  has  been  paid  to  them. 
If  your  Lordship  pleases  I  will  send  you  copies  of  them  both.  I  could  not 
but  further  observe  in  looking  over  the  list  of  the  Missionaries,  that  there  are 
q,o  less  than  twenty  employed  in  preaching  and  teaching  school  in  the 
Province  of  New  England  (where  certainly  the  Gospel  is  preached  with 
greater  purity  than  at  home),  and  but  two  settled  Missionaries  in  all  North 
Carolina,  and  one  of  those,  viz.,  Mr.  Garzia,  can  scarce  speak  English.     Does 


132  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

not  this  look  too  much  like  making  a  party  of  religion  ?     I  have  a  letter  now 
by  me  somewhere  amongst  my  papers,  wrote  by  Dr.  Mather  to  the  late  Lord 
Chancellor  King,  in  which  he  gives  sad  proofs  of  the  immorality  of  our 
Missionaries,  and  also  complains  of  this  seeming  partiality.     If  the  people  of 
New  England  impose  taxes  on  the  Members  of  the   Church  of  England, 
whilst  others  are  exempt,  it  is  certainly  wrong.     But  as  the  first  settlers  went 
over  there  to  worship   God  in  their  own  way,  Independency  I  think  may 
well  be  reckoned  the  Established  Worship  there  as  well  as  Presbytery  the 
Established  Worship   in  Scotland:  and  surely  it  would  more  answer  the 
design  of  the  Institution  of  the  Honourable  Society  to  send  Missionaries  to 
North  Carolina,  where  there  are  inhabitants  enough  and  nobody  to  teach 
them,  than  to  New  England,  where  they  have  a  Minister  of  their  own  every 
five  or  ten  miles.     Your  Lordship,  I  am  persuaded,  is  more  noble  than  to  be 
offended  with  this  plainness  of  speech.     The  Searcher  of  Hearts  knows  from 
what  principle  I  write.     Your  Lordship  is  pleased  to  say,  page  31st,  'that 
exact  accounts  are  required  from  the  Missionaries  twice  a  year.'     And  when 
they  are  brought  in,  what  accounts  do  they  generally  give  ?     That  they  have 
baptized  so  many,  and  had  so  many  Communicants.     A  poor  account  this, 
and  in  other  respects  so  very  bad,  that  when  I  was  last  at  Philadelphia,  many 
that  were  really  Friends   of  the  Church  upon  reading  the  accounts  were 
ashamed  to  see  how  the  Honourable  Society  was  imposed  on  by  the  account 
of  the  pious  labours  of  the  Missionaries.     Indeed  your  Lordship  says,  page 
17th,  and  I  doubt  not  your  Lordship  was  informed  so,  'that  multitudes  of 
Negroes  and  Indians  have  been  brought  over  to  the  Christian  Faith.'     This, 
for  all  that  I  know  to  the  contrary  may  be  matter  of  fact.    I  pray  God  it  may 
be  found  true  at  the  great  day ;  but  your  Lordship  says,  page  9,  '  the  success 
of  one  of  the  Catechists  has  been  so  great  in  the  Plantation  belonging  to  the 
Society,  that  out  of  two  hundred  and  thirty,  at  least  seventy  are  now  believers 
in  Christ.'     I  should  be  glad  to  know  what  Plantation  your  Lordship  means  : 
that  seventy  may  have  learned  to  repeat  their  Creed,  the  Lord's  Prayer,  and 
Ten  Commandments  in  the  Vulgar  Tongue,  and  been  baptised,  is  probable 
enough.     But  that  seventy  are  now  believers  in  Christ,  I  cannot  help  ques- 
tioning.    I  fear  your  Lordship  hath  been  misinformed ;  and  now  I  am  men- 
tioning the  Negroes,  I  beg  leave  to  object  against  the  method  lately  proposed 
for   their    Conversion,    especially  in   the   Province  of   Carolina,  where  the 
Governors  are  so  exceedingly  jealous  over  any  that  shall  undertake  publicly 
to  teach  them.     I  believe  it  will  be  a  work  of  a  long  time  to  find  out  two  or 
three  young  Negroes,  and  to  instruct  them  so  as  to  qualify  them  to  instruct 
others.     Besides,  few,  I  believe,  will  submit  to  be  taught  by  a  young  Negro. 
I  question  whether  the  Assembly  will  permit  a  slave  to  learn  to  write.     And, 
after  all,  this  way  of  converting  them  will  only  be  teaching  them  to  write  and 
read.     These   are  good  things,  but  without  setting  over  them  truly  pious 
people,  that  may  have  more  authority  over  them  than  any  young  negroes 
whatsoever,  and  may  lead  them  to  a  knowledge  of  themselves  and  God ; 
however  good  the  intention  of  the  Honourable  Society  may  be,  I  fear  their 
good  intention  will  prove  abortive  and  of  none  effect.     Pensylvania,  in  my 
opinion,  is  far  preferable  to  Carolina  for  the  instruction  of  the  Negroes.     The 
Quakers,  however  blameable  in  other  respects,  are  certainly  praiseworthy  in 
this  :  I  mean  their  lenity  to  their  poor  slaves.     Your  Lordship  is  pleased  to 


Mr.   Whitfield,  concerning  the  Missionaries. 


133 


urge  these  people's  forbidding  to  assist  his  Majesty  (whom  I  truly  love  and 
honour),  as  one  reason  why  Missionaries  should  be  sent  over  to  instruct  the 
people  in  better  principles.  But  at  the  same  time,  your  Lordship  takes  notice 
of  many  other  pernicious  errors  that  took  early  root  in  the  Provinces  abroad, 
that  are  not  yet  extirpated,  and  perhaps  in  part  newly  revived;  some 
dissolving  the  obligations  of  moral  duties  ;  some  destroying  the  inward  peace 
of  every  pious  and  good  person,  and  making  life  gloomy  and  uncomfortable ; 
some  leading  men  to  ascribe  every  folly  or  wickedness  that  possesses  the 
fancy  to  Divine  inspiration;  some  inconsistent  with  our  present^  happy 
establishment.  All  these,  my  Lord,  are  errors,  and,  as  your  Lordship  hath 
been  pleased  so  particularly  to  mention  the  Quakers,  would  it  not  have  been 
right  in  your  Lordship  to  have  pointed  out  the  others  also  who  are  thus 
erroneous,  that  people  might  the  better  beware  of  and  so  avoid  them.  I 
suppose  your  Lordship  has  been  informed  of  the  persons  that  broach  such 
errors,  otherwise  I  suppose  your  Lordship  would  not  have  mentioned  them ; 
and  if  so,  I  would  humbly  submit  it  to  your  Lordship's  judgment,  whether 
you  are  not  bound  in  conscience  to  write  to  them  or  plainly  name  them,  that 
they  may  either  clear  themselves  or  take  shame  for  holding  and  preaching 
things  contrary  to  the  Gospel  of  the  ever-blessed  Jesus.  Thus,  my  Lord,  I 
have  freely  wrote  to  your  Lordship  what  was  upon  my  heart.  I  think  I  have 
no  sinister  end  in  view  ;  I  think  I  write  purely  out  of  a  zeal  for  God,  and  the 
good  of  souls.  I  heartily  pray  for  the  coming  of  Christ's  Kingdom,  and 
would  therefore  willingly  have  all  things  taken  out  of  the  way  that  may 
obstruct  its  progress.  I  am  persuaded  your  Lordship  would  not  wilfully 
continue  in  any  error,  nor  be  above  receiving  information  from  the  meanest 
servant  of  Jesus  Christ.  This  persuasion  encouraged  me  to  write  to  your 
Lordship.  You  may  depend  on  it,  my  Lord,  that  I  shall  not  mention  what  I 
have  wrote,  and  if  your  Lordship  is  so  condescending  as  to  send  me  a  line  by 
way  of  answer,  it  shall  be  kept  quite  secret  by, 
"My  Lord, 

"  Your  Lordship's  dutiful 
"  Son  and  Servant, 

"  George  Whitefield. 

"  P.  S.  I  hope  to  be  in  London  in  about  six  weeks.  If  your  Lordship 
pleases  to  direct  a  letter  to  me,  as  before,  it  will  come  to  hand.  The  Lord  be 
with  your  spirit." 


Letter  from  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Oxford  to  Mr.  Whitefield. 

«  Cuddesden,  September  17th,  1741. 

'    "Sir: 

"  It  being  now  about  the  time  that  you  proposed  to  be  in 
London,  I  send  this  to  return  you  thanks  for  your  last  letter.  I  am  not 
sufficiently  acquainted  with  Governor  Belcher's  character  to  know  how  far  his 
account  of  his  own  impartiality  may  be  relied  on.  We  often  deceive  ourselves 


134  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

in  that  matter,  and  all  sects  of  Christians  are  too  apt  to  think  hardly  of  those 
who  are  not  of  their  own  Church,  and  especially  those  who  leave  it;  and  as 
there  is  but  too  much  room  for  all  parties  to  reproach  one  another  with  want 
of  inward  religion^  \ery  well  meaning  persons  may  mistake  in  making 
comparisons.  To  his  testimony  you  add  your  own,  and  I  believe  you  speak 
as  you  think.  But  you  must  permit  me  to  say,  and  I  do  it  with  sincere  good 
will  to  you,  that  I  am  persuaded  you  are  much  too  severe  in  what  you  have 
printed  concerning  your  Brethren  of  the  Clergy  in  this  Nation,  and  therefore 
you  may  have  been  too  severe  in  what  you  have  written  concerning  those 
abroad,  especially  as  I  find  that  many  accounts  different  from  yours  are  sent 
to  the  Society,  concerning  their  Missionaries,  bv  persons  in  all  appearance 
well  deserving  credit.  Still  what  you  and  the  Governor  have- said,  may  and 
I  hope  will  give  occasion  for  stricter  enquiries,  but  you  cannot  think  it  rea- 
sonable that  we  should  pay  regard  to  your  accounts  only.  I  have  seen  one, 
if  not  both  your  letters  to  the  Society.  They  consist,  as  I  remember,  of 
general  Charges,  without  mentioning  any  particular,  and  therefore  all  that 
can  be  done  upon  them  is  to  enquire.  Your  objection  against  the  number  of 
Missionaries  in  New  England  I  have  endeavoured  to  answer  in  my  Sermon, 
and  if  they  can  be  proportioned  better,  I  wish  they  were.  But  I  have  always 
understood  that  the  reason  of  there  being  only  two  in  North  Carolina,  was 
the  bad  reception  of  those  who  were  sent,  of  which  you  may  read  very 
discouraging  accounts  in  Humphrey's  History  of  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Society,  and  the  difficulty  of  finding  Persons  to  undertake  that  Mission; 
which  difficulty  I  suppose  must  have  been  the  reason  of  sending  a  Person 
not  sufficiently  acquainted,  by  your  account,  for  I  know  not  the  fact,  with 
our  language.  _  I  believe  the  accounts  of  the  Missionaries  are  as  regularly 
sent  to  the  Society  as  can  be  expected  from  that  distance,  or  proper  notice 
taken  of  the  neglect.  They  may  indeed,  and  frequently,  if  not  constantly,  do 
give  further  accounts  than  of  their  Baptisms  and  their  Communions,  which 
however  are  such  marks  of  Christian  profession  as  deserve  to  be  particularly 
mentioned ;  nor  do  the  accounts  which  we  publish  by  any  means  consist  of 
these  only.  But  it  may  be  very  improper  for  us  to  print  everything  which  it 
may  be  proper  for  them  to  write.  If  any  part  of  their  information  which 
we  print  is  false,  we  designedly  put  it  in  the  power  of  all  abroad  who  are 
really  Friends  of  our  Church  or  of  Eeligion,  to  prevent  our  being  imposed  on 
by  it,  and  if  they  will  not,  the  blame  is  not  ours ;  for  making  these  things 
the  subject  of  their  discourse  instead  of  informing  us,  is  only  doing  harm. 
But  I  hope  all  good  persons  will  consider  how  very  licentious  common 
discourse  upon  such  subjects  usually  is,  and  will  therefore  examine  carefully 
before  they  take  up  accusations.  The  only  Plantation  belonging  to  the 
Society,  I  mean  as  their  Property,  is  in  Barbadoes,  and  when  I  say  that 
seventy  of  the  Negroes  there  are  believers  in  Christ,  I  use  that  expression  as 
I  apprehend  it  is  commonly  used  in  speaking  of  Countries  where  different 
religions  are  professed,  to  signify  that  so  many  profess  themselves  Christians. 
I  do  not  see  reason  to  suspect  their  being  hypocrites  in  that  profession,  and  I 
hope  their  faith  produces  good  fruits.  The  method  lately  proposed  for 
instructing  Negroes  continues  to  appear  to  me  very  promising,  at  least  highly 
fit  to  be  tried.  There  is  a  prospect  that  the  young  Negroes  designed  for 
teachers  will,  by  the  blessing  of  God  on  their  education,  become  truly  pious, 


Mr.    Whitfield  concerning  the  Missionaries.  135 

as  well  as  qualified  in  other  respects.  The  disadvantage  of  their  youth  will 
be  lessening  every  day,  and  they  will  gain  authority  by  degrees  if  they  are 
duly  supported.  It  is  not  that  I  know  of,  proposed  that  their  scholars  should 
learn  to  write,  and  I  do  not  at  all  understand  why  you  say  that  this  method 
will  be  only  teaching  them  to  write  and  read.  Whether  Pensylvania  is 
preferable  to  Carolina  for  Instruction  of  the  Negroes  I  know  not,  _  but  wish  it 
were  tried  every  way.  "What  errors  took  early  root  in  our  Colonies,  and  are 
not  yet  extirpated,  you  may  see  in  Humphrey's,  and  as  I  have  only  spoken 
doubtfully  concerning  the  revival  of  any  of  them,  and  that  not  upon  any 
intelligence  communicated  particularly  to  me,  but  from  such  accounts  as  he 
before  the  Society,  I  do  not  apprehend  myself  obliged  to  go  further  than  I 
have  done  in  this  matter.  I  have  accused  no  person,  nor  designed  to  make 
any  person  otherwise  thought  of  than  he  was  before.  If  I  have  given 
occasion  to  any  one  to  ask  himself  whether  he  is  blamable  or  not,  I  have 
only  put  him  upon  doing  what  we  all  ought  to  do  more  frequently,  and  God 
grant  we  may  do  it,  to  his  Glory  and  our  own  Good. 
"  I  am,  Sir, 

"  Your  loving  Brother 
"  And  Servant, 

"Thomas  Oxford." 

"  Mr.  Whitefield." 


EFFORTS 


TO   OBTAIN 


THE     EPISCOPATE 

BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION. 

BY   FRANCIS    L.    HAWKS. 


The  following  article  was  published  some  twenty  years  ago  in  a  then 
existing  Church  periodical  of  but  limited  circulation,  and  has  probably  fallen 
under  the  eye  of  comparatively  few  of  the  members  of  the  Society.  As  time 
and  care  were  bestowed  in  the  collection  of  facts  necessary  in  its  preparation, 
the  Publishing  Committee  have  thought  it  worth  reprinting,  and  have  there- 
fore obtained  the  consent  of  the  author,  who  is  one  of  their  number,  to 
preserve  it  in  the  pages  of  the  Society's  collections  : — 

Among  a  body  of  Christians,  in  whose  system  of  ecclesiastical  government 
episcopacy  held  a  conspicuous  place,  it  would  follow,  of  course,  that  efforts 
would  not  be  wanting  to  obtain  an  officer  so  essential  as  is  a  Bishop.  Hence, 
at  a  very  early  period,  the  subject  of  an  American  Episcopate  seems  to  have 
occupied  the  minds  of  Episcopalians,  both  in  the  colonies  and  in  the  mother 
country. 

The  Bishop  of  London,  "  by  customary  usage  (which  seems  to  have  taken 
its  rise  from  accidental  connexion"*),  exercised  spiritual  jurisdiction  in  the 
plantations,  from  a  period  commencing  soon  after  the  settlement  of  Virginia ; 
and  to  him  was  confided  the  supervision  of  a  diocese,  which  it  was  neither 
expected  or  required  that  he  should  ever  see.f 

*  Archbishop  Drummond's  paper  upon  the  present  state  of  the  Church  of  England  in 
the  colonies,  drawn  up  in  June,  1764.— MSS.  of  Gen.  Convention. 

t  There  is  some  difficulty  in  tracing  satisfactorily  the  origin  and  progress  of  the 
"  accidental  connexion"  of  the  Bishop  of  London  with  the  church  in  the  American 
colonies.     The  best  account  which  we  can  furnish  on  this  subject  is  the  following  : — 

The  first  royal  grant  made  of  lands  in  America  was  by  King  James  I.  in  the  year 
1606,  to  what  was  then  termed  the  second  Virginia  Company ;  and  pursuant  to  the 
provisions  of  this  grant,  it  was  ordered  that  "  the  true  word  of  God  should  be  preached, 
planted,  and  used,  according  to  the  rites  and  doctrines  of  the  Church  of  England." 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution.  187 

It  was  not  long  ere  the  evils  resulting  from  such  an  arrangement  were 
sensibly  felt  in  the  colonies,  and  readily  suggested  themselves  to  the  minds  of 
churchmen  in  England.     Nay,  the  necessity  of  a  Bishop  to  an  Episcopal 

In  1620,  the  number  of  clergymen  in  Virginia  was  less,  by  one-half,  than  the  number 
of  parishes,  and  it  was  the  duty  of  the  "  Virginia  Council,"  which  sat  in  London,  to 
supply  the  deficiency.  The  Bishop  of  London  was  a  member  of  the  council,  and  had 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  the  plantations,  having  raised  £1000  toward 
building  a  college  in  Virginia.  The  council,  therefore,  very  naturally  applied  to  him  as 
one  of  their  body,  for  his  help  in  procuring  ministers.  And  this  is  the  first  instance  to 
be  met  with  of  the  connexion  of  the  Bishop  of  London  with  the  Church  in  the 
colonies. 

This  was  probably  the  origin  of  the  jurisdiction  exercised  for  many  years  over  the 
American  church  by  the  successive  prelates  of  the  see  of  London.  This  jurisdiction  was 
unquestioned  for  a  long  period  of  time,  and  of  course  gained  strength  with  its  age.  At 
length,  in  1675,  the  Committee  of  Trade  and  Plantations  "  desired  that  inquiry  be  made 
touching  the  jurisdiction  which  the  Bishop  of  London  hath  over  the  foreign  plantations." 
What  caused  the  inquiry  is  unknown,  but  no  return  was  made  to  it.  In  1679,  however, 
the  instructions  given  to  Lord  Culpepper,  at  that  time  appointed  governor,  clearly  show 
that  the  Bishop  of  London  was  not  supposed  to  have  any  jurisdiction,  for  he  has  nothing 
but  a  mere  ministerial  office  assigned  him  :  the  Governor  has  the  power  to  prefer  to  eccle- 
siastical benefices  in  the  colony,  and  the  only  notice  taken  of  the  Bishop  of  London  is  in 
requiring  of  the  person  preferred  a  certificate  from  that  prelate  that  the  candidate  is 
"  conformable  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Church  of  England." 

In  1681,  Sir  Thomas  Lynch  was  appointed  Governor  of  Jamaica,  and  he  was 
instructed  to  report  to  the  Bishop  of  London  all  ministers  who  officiated  in  the  island 
without  "  being  in  due  orders." 

In  1685,  the  Bishop  of  London  proposed  to  the  Committee  of  Trade,  that  he  should 
have  all  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  in  the  West  Indies,  except  the  disposition  of  parishes, 
licenses  for  marriage,  and  prolate  of  wills. 

This  was  approved  of,  and  the  governor  was  directed  to  give  all  countenance  and 
encouragement  to  the  exercise  of  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  in  the  island,  by  the  Bishop 
of  London,  except  in  the  particulars  enumerated,  as  to  which  the  power  was  conferred 
on  the  governor. 

Similar  instructions  were  given  to  all  the  other  colonial  governors,  and  under  this 
authority,  Bishops  Compton  and  Eobinson,  and  for  a  few  years,  Bishop  Gibson,  exercised 
jurisdiction  in  the  plantations.  But,  in  1725,  Bishop  Gibson  desired  more  explicit 
authority  and  direction,  and  for  that  purpose  applied  by  petition  to  the  king  in  council. 
The  petition  was  referred  to  the  attorney  and  solicitor  general,  who  stated  as  their  opinion 
that  the  Bishops  of  London  had  all  acted  by  an  authority  which  was  insufficient,  and  that 
the  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  of  the  colonies  did  not  rightfully  belong  to  any  Bishop  in 
England,  and  that  the  most  proper  mode  of  conferring  on  any  person  the  right  to  exercise 
such  jurisdiction  was  by  patent. 

A  patent  was  accordingly  granted  to  Dr.  Gibson,  but  it  was  to  him  personally,  and 
not  as  Bishop  of  London;  his  successors  were  not  named  in  it,  so  that  the  patent 
expired  with  his  life:  nor  did  any  of  his  successors  ever  obtain  another,  but  acted 
without  one. 

From  the  first  exercise  of  jurisdiction  up  to  the  period  of  Bishop  Gibson  s  patent,  there 
were  several  circumstances  which  had  a  tendency  to  strengthen  the  opinion  that  the 
Bishop  of  London  was  the  rightful  diocesan  of  the  American  church.  Thus,  m  1679, 
some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston,  who  were  members  of  the  Church  of  England, 
petitioned  Bishop  Compton,  then  in  the  see  of  London,  for  his  help  in  obtaining  for 
themselves  the  services  of  the  church.  The  bishop  procured  the  consent  of  the  king  that 
a  church  should  be  allowed.  This  application  called  the  attention  of  Dr.  Compton  more 
particularly  to  the  state  of  the  church  in  the  colonies,  and  resulted  in  his  proposing  to 
various  parts  of  America  to  supply  them  with  clergymen  ;  and  on  his  application  to  the 
king,  his  majesty  granted  a  bounty  of  £20  to  each  minister  who  would  go  over  to  the 
colonies,  and  instructed  the  governors  to  permit  none  authoritatively  to  serve  any  cure  ot 
souls  "  unless  he  was  licensed  to  do  so  by  the  Bishop  of  London." 


138  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections, 

Church  was  so  obvious,  and  its  propriety  so  unquestionable,  that  it  seems  to 
have  engaged  the  unsolicited  attention  of  even  the  irreligious  monarch, 
Charles  II.  And  it  is  but  an  act  of  justice  to  the  prelates  who  successively 
occupied  the  see  of  London,  to  remark,  that  among  the  dignitaries  of  the 
English  church,  none  seem  to  have  been  more  generally  anxious  than  were 
they  to  furnish  the  colonies  with  a  bishop.  We  meet  with  no  record  of  any 
whose  lust  of  power  was  such  as  caused  them  to  covet  the  exercise  of  an 
authority,  which,  while  it  conferred  honour,  imposed  also  a  fearful  responsi- 
bility.* 

In  most  of  the  earlier  efforts  which  were  made  for  procuring  the  Episcopate 
in  America,  the  laity  seem  to  have  co-operated  with  the  clergy ;  though  in 
the  first  step  taken  towards  effecting  the  object,  it  does  not  appear  that  either 
clergy  or  laity  in  the  plantations  had  any  agency ;  but  in  the  subsequent 
applications,  for  several  years,  there  is  abundant  evidence  that  a  bishop  was 
solicited  alike  by  all. 

The  first  proposal  of  an  American  Episcopate,  of  which  we  have  any 
authentic  record,  was  in  16*72  or  the  year  following.f     In  one  of  these  years 

Another  circumstance,  which  doubtless  confirmed  in  public  opinion  the  authority  of  the 
Bishop  of  London,  was  the  following : — Sir  Leoline  Jenkins,  observing  the  wretched 
state  of  the  colonies  as  to  religious  instruction,  by  his  will  (after  remarking  on  the 
small  number  of  clergymen  in  the  fleets  and  plantations  of  the  king)  founded  two  new 
fellowships  at  Jesus  College,  Oxford,  upon  condition  that  the  fellows  and  their  successors 
forever,  should  take  priests'  orders,  and  go  out  as  chaplains  in  the  navy  when  thereto 
required  by  the  Lord  High  Admiral ;  and  in  case  there  should  be  no  use  for  them  at  sea, 
then  they  were  "  to  be  called  by  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London  to  go  out  into  any  of  hi3 
majesty's  foreiga  plantations."  The  selection  by  the  testator  of  the  Bishop  of  London  to 
make  the  call  was  probably  founded  on  the  opinion,  then  prevalent,  that  the  spiritual  care 
of  the  plantations  belonged  to  that  prelate. 

In  1701,  the  charter  of  "  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts"  was  obtained ;  and  by  this  society,  missionaries  were  furnished  to  all  the  colonies 
except  Maryland  and/Virginia,  up  to  the  period  of  the  American  revolution.  But,  as 
all  the  clergymen  who  had  come  over  prior  to  1701,  had  been  licensed  by  the  Bishop  of 
London,  the  practice  continued  after  the  society  was  established,  and  the  missionaries 
always  considered  that  prelate  as  their  diocesan.  For  the  statements  in  this  note,  see 
Bishop  Sherlock's  memorial  to  the  king  in  council,  presented  in  February,  1749-50  ;  Dr. 
Kenneli's  account  of  the  society ;  Humphrey's  History  of  the  Society  ;  and  Bishop 
Gibson's  petition  and  commission,  among  the  MSS.  of  the  General  Convention,    i 

*  We  find  one  of  the  English  prelates  using  the  following  language  on  this  subject : 
"  No  one  who  has  any  experience  or  sense  of  these  things  [the  duties  of  a  bishop]  can 
ever  say  that  the  Bishop  of  London  could  at  any  time  take  a  competent  care  of  the 
plantations  as  a  bishop  ;  nor  did  the  ablest  prelate  that  ever  filled  that  see  ever  think  that 
he  could,  or  ever  wish  to  continue  in  so  irksome_and  fruitless  an  office." — Thoughts  upon 
the  present  state  of  the  Church  of  England  in  America,  by  Archbishop  Drummond — 
MSS.  of  Gen.  Convention. 

Again,  another  thus  expresses  himself:  "  I  am  very  sensible  (and  in  this  I  speak  the 
sentiments  of  my  brethren)  that  nothing  can  more  effectually  contribute  to  the  happy  and 
prosperous  state  of  the  colonies,  in  a  civil  as  well  as  a  religious  view,  than  the  appoint- 
ment of  resident  bishops.  A  bishop  of  London,  however  inclined  to  do  his  duty,  is  too 
sensible  of  the  importance  of  the  charge  which  long  usage  and  custom  has  committed' to 
him,  and  too  conscious  of  the  little  service  he  can  do  to  a  clergy  at  this  distance  from 
him,  not  to  feel  very  anxiously  the  necessity  of  a  more  immediate  inspection  and 
government." — Original  letter  from  the  Bishop  of  London  to  the  clergy  of  Connecticut, 
February  18,  1765— Johns.  MSS. 

t  A  letter  of  1662,  sent  from  England  to  Massachusetts,  would  seem  to  show  that  a 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution.  139 

a  resolution  was  taken  by  the  king  (Charles  II.)  in  council  to  send  a  bishop 
to  Virginia,  and  the  individual  was  actually  selected  on  whom  the  proposed 
honour  should  be  conferred.  Dr.  Alexander  Murray,  who  had  been  the 
companion  of  the  king  in  his  travels,  was  the  person  nominated  to  be  the  first 
bishop  in  America ;  and  a  draught  of  letters  patent  was  prepared,  which 
Bishop  Gibson  in  1723  stated,  was  then  extant  among  the  records  of  the  see 
of  London.* 

Of  the  causes  which  led  to  the  failure  of  the  intended  design,  it  is  not 
possible  at  this  distance  of  time  to  speak  with  certainty.  In  the  manuscript 
already  referred  to,  it  is  suggested  by  Bishop  Gibson  that  the  plan  was 
defeated  because  "  the  endowment  was  to  be  out  of  the  public  customs."  In 
an  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Dr.  Murray  himself,f  a  different,  and 
probably  more  correct  reason  is  assigned.  In  October,  1673,  the  plan  of 
establishment  for  the  bishop  was  referred  to  the  then  Bishop  of  London  (Dr. 
Compton),  and  the  Lord  Keeper  (Sir  Orlando  Bridgman) ;  and  very  soon 
after,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  celebrated  ministry,  known  as  the 
Cabal,  Sir  Orlando  Bridgman  was  displaced  before  an  opportunity  had  been 
afforded  him  of  reporting  on  the  proposed  establishment  ;  and  the  subject 
was  not  again  resumed. 

The  next  mention  which  we  find  made  of  an  American  Episcopate  is  in 
the  abstract  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  in 
the  year  1703.  It  is  there  said  that  the  society  had  received  "  addresses 
from  divers  parts  of  the  continent,  and  islands  adjacent,  for  a  suffragan,  to 
visit  the  several  churches  ;  ordain  some,  confirm  others,  and  bless  all." 

Indeed,  about  this  period,  the  pressing  want  of  a  bishop  seems  to  have 
been  very  sensibly  felt,  and  the  applications  to  the  society  appear  to  have 
been  urged  with  an  almost  importunate  frequency.  They  received  a  respect- 
ful hearing,  and  at  length  a  committee  prepared  a  statement  of  facts,  entitled 
.  "  the  case  of  suffragan  bishops  for  foreign  parts  briefly  proposed,"  which  was 
submitted  to  the  queen's  attorney-general  for  his  opinion.^ 

bishop  was  appointed  in  that  year.  Its  language  is  :  "  There  was  a  General  Governor, 
and  a  Major-General  chosen,  and  a  Bishop  with  a  suffragan,  but  Mr.  Norton  writes  that 
they  are  not  yet  out  of  hopes  to  prevent  it."  See  Hutchinson's  History  of  Massachu- 
setts, vol.  i.  p.  225,  note.  There  is  no  evidence  which  throws  light  on  this  appointment, 
if  it  ever  was  made.  It  is  perhaps  not  improbable,  that  in  transcribing,  a  mistake  may 
have  been  made  in  the  year ;  1662  having  been  written  for  1672. 

*  Bishop  Gibson's  letter  and  memorial  on  sending  bishops  to  the  English  plantations 
abroad.     MSS.  of  Gen.  Convention. 

Address  from  the  clergy  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey  to  the  Episcopalians  in 
Virginia,  p.  11. 

t  Chandler's  Appeal  further  defended,  p.  148. 

%  Dr.  Kennett's  account  of  the  Society,  published  at  London  in  1706,  but  without  the 
author's  name.  By  the  beneficence  of  many  individuals,  a  fund  for  the  support  of  a 
bishop  in  America  had  been  gradually  accumulating,  and  it  is  probable,  that  had  one  been 
appointed,  the  colonists  would  have  been  entirely  relieved  from  the  burthen  of  his 
maintenance.  It  deserves  too  to  be  remembered,  that  the  larger  portion  of  this  fund  was 
contributed  by  gentlemen  who  were  themselves  in  the  episcopal  office  ;  among  whom 
Bishop  Butler,  of  Durham,  holds  a  conspicuous  place.  Indeed,  such  was  the  anxiety  of 
the  English  prelates  on  the  subject,  that  it  was  said  the  Bishop  of  London,  in  1745, 
"  offered  to  the  king  and  council,  on  condition  that  an  American  bishop  might  be  sent 


140  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

The  plan  was  not,  however,  brought  to  a  speedy  conclusion,  for  in  17 10 
we  find  the  society  alluding  to  the  want  of  a  bishop  in  America,  stating  that 
the  subject  is  yet  under  the  consideration  of  the  society,  and  informing  the 
public  that  they  were  endeavouring  to  find  a  commodious  and  central  place 
in  which  to  fix  the  residence  of  the  bishop.*  Nor  was  it  long  after  this 
representation,  before  the  society  purchased  at  Burlington,  in  New  Jersey,  at 
an  expense  of  £600,  a  convenient  mansion  house  and  lands  for  the  use  of  the 
future  bishop.f 

We  have  said  that  in  the  earlier  efforts  which  were  made  to  procure  the 
episcopate,  the  laity  co-operated  with  the  clergy.  In  an  address  of  the 
society  to  the  throne  in  1*712,  the  subject  is  thus  represented  to  the  queen  : 
"  We  cannot  but  take  this  opportunity,  farther  to  represent  to  your  majesty, 
the  earnest  and  repeated  desires  not  only  of  the  missionaries,  but  of  divers 
other  considerable  persons  that  are  m  communion  with  our  excellent  church, 
to  have  a  bishop  settled  in  your  American  plantations.";};  And  again,  in 
1714,  by  way  of  apology  for  such  continued  importunity,  the  society  stated 
that  it  acted  "  upon  renewed  instances  from  governors  of  provinces,  ministers, 
vestries,  and  private  persons  in  the  plantations,  for  settling  ecclesiastical 
superiors  there,"  and  "  after  a  loud  call  for  fifteen  years  together."§ 

Nor  is  it  surprising  that  such  should  have  been  the  fact :  at  the  period  of 
which  we  are  now  writing,  the  jealousy  of  ecclesiastical  power,  and  the  dread 
of  prelatical  tyranny,  seem  not  to  have  been  awakened.  There  appears  at  this 
time  to  have  been  very  little  effort  made  to  play  upon  the  prejudices,  or  to 
alarm  the  fears  of  men :  the  political  aspect  of  affairs,  which  at  a  subsequent 
period  arrayed  in  opposition  to  an  American  Episcopate  all  who  were  not, 
and  many  who  were  churchmen,  furnished  at  this  time  no  exciting 
cause.  The  colonies  were  in  tranquillity.  In  many  parts,  the  inhabitants 
were  almost  entirely  of  the  Church  of  England ;  these  individuals  looked 
toward  the  mother  country  with  the  confiding  Ifeelings  of  a  child  towards 
a  parent.  Too  feeble  to  think  of  independence,  and  probably  too  loyal 
to  desire  it,  the  institutions  of  the  land  of  their  fathers  were  invested 
with  a  sacredness  which  they  wished  not  to  violate.  They  had  been 
educated  in  the  faith  of  the  Church  of  England.     That  church  deemed 

over  in  his  time,  that  he  would  give  towards  his  support  ten  thousand  pounds." — Original 
letter  from  Dr.  Chandler  to  Dr.  Johnson — Johns.  MSS. 

*  Abstract  of  the  society's  proceedings,  1710. " 

t  Address  from  the  clergy  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey  to  the  Episcopalians  of 
Virginia,  p.  13.  It  has  been  stated  in  a  life  of  Dean  Swift,  by  Sir  Walter  Scott,  that 
"  there  was  a  plan  suggested  by  Colonel  Hunter,  Governor  of  Virginia,  to  send  out  Dr. 
Swift  as  bishop  of  that  province,  to  exercise  a  sort  of  metropolitan  authority  over  the 
colonial  clergy ;  but  the  appointment  did  not  take  place."  If  the  statement  of  the 
biographer  be  correct,  it  is  probable  that  the  plan  was  contemplated  about  this  time.  Dr. 
Balcho  (alluding  to  the  circumstance  in  his  History  of  the  Church  in  South  Carolina) 
observes,  that  the  known  intimacy  between  Colonel  Hunter  and  Dr.  Swift  affords  some 
confirmation  to  the  statement.  Colonel  Hunter  was  appointed  Governor  of  Virginia  in 
1708,  but  was  captured  by  the  French  on  his  voyage  out.  1^1710  he  was  sent  out 
Governor  of  New  York  and  the  Jerseys.     See  Dalcho's  History,  pp.  90,  91. 

X  Dr.  Kennetfs  anniversary  sermon,  1712,  p.  29,  note. 

§  Abstract,  1714. 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution.  141 

bishops  necessary  for  ecclesiastical  government.  The  colonists  looked  around 
them,  and  saw  the  number  of  Episcopal  clergymen  in  this  country, 
exceeding  the  number  in  many  of  the  dioceses  of  England.*  They  felt  that 
if  supervision  was  needed  at  home,  the  necessity  for  it  abroad  could  not  be 
diminished,  where  the  number  to  be  overlooked  was  larger  than  that  at 
home. 

The  representation  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  to  which  we 
have  already  alluded,  experienced  at  the  hands  of  the  queen  the  most  favour- 
able reception.  In  the  abstract  of  the  proceedings  for  1715,  it  is  stated  that 
"  her  majesty  was  pleased  to  give  a  most  gracious  answer,  highly  satisfactory 
to  the  Society,  and  a  draught  of  a  bill  was  ordered,  proper  to  be  offered  to 
the  parliament  for  establishing  bishops  and  bishoprics  in  America."  The 
object  so  earnestly  desired  appeared  at  this  time  on  the  eve  of  accomplish- 
ment ;  but  the  friends  of  the  measure  were  destined  to  witness  the  destruction 
of  their  hopes,  in  the  death  of  the  queen,  before  the  bill  had  been  introduced 
into  parliament. 

Disappointed,  but  not  in  despair,  the  advocates  of  an  American  Episcopate 
renewed  their  efforts  early  in  the  reign  of  the  queen's  successor.  They  were 
favourably  received  by  George  L,  and  once  more  did  they  look  forward  to  the 
successful  termination  of  their  persevering  labours :  once  more  too  were  they 
doomed  to  disappointment :  scarcely  was  the  new  monarch  seated  on  his 
throne  before  his  attention  was  absorbed  by  the  single  object  of  retaining  his 
sovereignty.  The  friends  of  the  house  of  Stuart,  by  their  efforts  to  place  the 
pretender  upon  the  throne,  furnished  for  a  time  ample  employment  to  the 
king  and  his  advisers.  It  was  not  a  period  to  devote  much  attention  to  the 
comparatively  unimportant  application  of  a  few  episcopalians  in  the  colonies, 
when  the  existence  of  the  government  itself  was  threatened  by  an  extensive 
and  dangerous  rebellion. 

Thus  interrupted  in  their  designs,  the  friends  of  an  American  Episcopate 
seem  not  to  have  renewed  their  application  for  many  years.  It  was  not  until 
the  second  George  had  been  upon  the  throne  for  thirteen  years,  that  in  1740 
the  necessity  of  a  bishop  over  the  churchmen  of  America  was  again  publicly 
alluded  to.  In  that  year,  Dr.  Seeker,  who  was  then  Bishop  of  Oxford, 
preached  the  anniversary  sermon  before  the  Society  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel,  and  depicting  in  lively  colours  the  inconveniences  of  the  Church  in 
America,  pleaded  with  affectionate  earnestness  for  a  resident  bishop,  as  the 
only  remedy  for  its  manifold  spiritual  privations. 

"Whether  any  measure  proposing  relief  resulted  from  his  representation,  we 
have  not  the  means  of  discovering ;  it  is  probable,  however,  that,  discouraged 
by  repeated  failures,  the  society  preferred  patiently  to  wait  until  some  oppor- 
tunity, decidedly  favourable  to  their  wishes,  should  present  itself. 

This  opinion  derives  countenance  from  the  fact  that,  from  the  period  just 
alluded  to,  up  to  the  year  1750,  we  have  met  with  no  record  of  any  attempt, 
direct  or  indirect,  for  the  attainment  of  the  object  in  view. 

There  seems  to  be  reason  too  for  supposing  that  during  this  interval,  the 
efforts  of  English  churchmen  were  suspended  upon  the  intimation  of  those  in 
authority.     In  the  manuscript  of  Archbishop  Drummond,  prepared  in  1764,. 

*  Abstract,  1715. 
10 


142  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

and  already  referred  to,  he  remarks,  that  "  in  the  late  reign,  the  fears  of 
disturbing  his  majesty's  governors,  particularly  in  New  England,  so  influenced 
the  ministry,  that  they  not  only,  perhaps  very  wisely,  hesitated  about  the 
proposal  of  settling  bishops  in  America,  but  finally  postponed  it." 

However,  about  the  year  1750,  some  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel*  entered  upon  the  subject  with  a  zeal 
which  seemed  only  to  have  gained  strength  from  previous  disappointments. 

We  have  remarked  that  in  1*713  but  little  opposition  had  been  made  to 
the  proposed  measure  by  such  of  the  colonists  as  were  not  of  the  communion 
of  the  Church  of  England. 

To  say  that  there  was  no  opposition  would  not  be  true :  there  probably 
never  was  a  period  when  the  unhappy  feelings  engendered  by  differences  of 
opinion  in  religion,  did  not  produce  an  opposition,  in  which  conscience  had 
less  to  do  than  party  feeling.  But  at  the  early  period  which  we  have  named 
(1713)  the  opposition  which  was  made,  principally  in  New  England,  was  by 
no  means  formidable.  Indeed,  uncommon  pains  seem  to  have  been  taken  to 
remove  all  just  ground  of  apprehension  from  the  minds  of  those  to  whom 
Episcopacy  was  most  abhorrent.  In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Cohnan,  a  congregational 
minister  of  Boston,  written  by  Dr.  Kennett  in  1713,  we  meet  with  the  follow- 
ing language  in  reference  to  an  American  Episcopate :  "  I  hope  your 
churches  would  not  be  jealous  of  it,  they  being  out  of  our  line,  and 
therefore  beyond  the  cognizance  of  any  overseers  to  be  sent  from  hence. "\ 

But  at  the  latest  period  of  which  we  have  spoken  (1750),  the  state  of 
things  was  materially  different  from  what  it  had  been  when  efforts  to  obtain 
a  bishop  in  the  colonies  were  first  made.  An  opposition,  by  no  means 
general  in  its  origin,  and,  so  far  as  we  can  discover,  not  marked  by 
violence  in  the  commencement,  had  in  the  lapse  of  time  attained  to  a  magni- 
tude not  to  be  despised  :  the  question  had  from  time  to  time  been  agitated, 
discussion  had  provoked  warmth,  to  minds  heated  by  controversy  objects 
assumed  an  undue  magnitude,  dangers  were  apprehended  more  imaginary 
than  real ;  religious  prejudices  assumed  their  unholy  sway,  and  religious 
toleration  was  not  at  all  understood.^     The  gradual  increase  too,  both  of 

*  Bishops  Sherlock,  Seeker,  and  Butler.  Free  examination  of  Critical  Commentary, 
p.  2. 

t  Turell's  Life  of  Dr.  Cohnan,  p.  127. 

X  As  a  matter  of  curiosity,  there  is  subjoined  the  following  passage  on  the  subject  of 
religious  toleration  ;  it  is  to  be  found  in  an  article  contained  in  Gaine's  N.  York  Gazette 
of  May  2,  1768,  and  is  there  given  as  an  extract  from  some  work  on  the  subject : 
"  Toleration  is  a  city  of  refuge  in  men's  consciences  for  the  devil  to  fly  unto — a  tolera- 
tion of  soul  murder :  for  establishing  whereof  damned  souls  in  hell  will  curse  men  upon 
earth — a  transcendent  catholic,  fundamental  evil, — the  abomination  of  desolation :  all  the 
devils  in  hell,  and  their  instruments,  are  at  work  to  promote  a  toleration." 

Another  instance  of  how  little  was  understood  of  religious  toleration  is  furnished  by  the 
•following  incident.  When  Governor  Dudley  of  Massachusetts  died,  there  was  found  in 
his  pocket  a  copy  of  verses  written  by  himself,  containing  these  lines  : 

"  Let  men  of  God  in  court  and  churches  watch 
O'er  such  as  do  a  toleration  hatch, 
Lest  that  ill  egg  bring  forth  a  cockatrice, 
To  poison  all  with  heresie  and  vice." 

"  This  (says  Hutchinson)  was  the  prevailing  doctrine  many  years,  and  until  their  eyes 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution.  143 

Episcopal  congregations  and  clergymen  in  New  England,  doubtless,  contri- 
buted not  a  little  to  give  fierceness  to  the  opposition.  The  number  of  the 
Episcopal  clergy  in  New  England  had  been  enlarged  from  six  or  seven  to 
twenty ;  and  of  these  twenty,  several  had  deliberately  renounced  their 
ordination  in  the  congregational  mode,  from  conscientious  scruples  as  to  its 
validity.  This  latter  fact  alone  was  sufficient  to  provoke  the  hostility  of  the 
descendants  of  the  pilgrims.  It  was  not  to  be  endured,  that  Episcopacy 
should,  unmolested,  rear  its  mitred  head  among  the  children  of  men  who  had 
said  to  the  world :  "  Let  all  mankind  know  that  we  came  into  the  wilderness, 
because  we  would  worship  God  without  that  Episcojxicy,  that  Common 
Prayer,  and  those  unwarrantable  ceremonies,  with  which  the  land  of  our 
forefathers'  sepulchres  has  been  defiled ;  we  came  hither  because  we  would 
have  our  posterity  settled  under  the  pure  and  full  dispensations  of  the  gospel ; 
defended  by  rulers  that  should  be  of  ourselves."* 

But  whatever  may  have  been  the  causes  which  led  to  the  opposition,  the 
fact  is  undeniable,  that  among  such  of  the  colonists  as  were  not  of  the  Church 
of  England,  the  resistance  to  the  measure  was  so  determined,  that  in  the  steps 
taken  in  1750,  uncommon  care  was  manifested  to  remove  the  apprehensions 
and  disarm  the  hostility  of  American  anti-Episcopalians. 

The  plan  which,  after  much  deliberation,  was  at  that  time  digested  was 
designed  to  pay  a  due  regard  to  the  necessities  of  the  church  on  the  one 
hand,  while  it  should  offer  neither  injury  nor  offence  to  any  portion  of  the 
colonists  on  the  other.  This  plan,  we  presume,  will  lose  nothing  of  its 
interest  with  the  reader,  when  he  is  informed  that  it  is  from  the  pen  of  the 
justly  celebrated  Dr.  Butler,  Bishop  of  Durham.     It  is  in  these  words : 

1.  That  no  coercive  power  is  desired  over  the  laity  in  any  case,  but  only  a 
power  to  regulate  the  clergy  who  are  in  Episcopal  orders,  and  to  correct  and 
punish  them  according  to  the  law  of  the  Church  of  England,  in  case  of 
misbehaviour  or  neglect  of  duty,  with  such  powers  as  the  commissaries  abroad 
have  exercised. 

2.  That  nothing  is  desired  for  such  bishops  that  may  in  the  least  interfere 
with  the  dignity,  or  authority,  or  interest  of  the  governor,  or  any  other 
officer  of  otate.  Probates  of  wills,  license  for  marriages,  &c,  to  be  left  in  the 
hands  where  they  are  ;  and  no  share  in  the  temporal  government  is  desired 
for  bishops. 

3.  The  maintenance  of  such  bishops  not  to  be  at  the  charge  of  the 
colonies. 

4.  No  bishops  are  intended  to  be  settled  in  places  where  the  government  is 
in  the  hands  of  dissenters,  as  in  New  England,  &c. ;  but  authority  to  be  given 
only  to  ordain  clergy  for  such  Church  of  England  congregations  as  are  among 
them,  and  to  inspect  into  the  manners  and  behaviour  of  the  said  clergy,  and 
to  confirm  the  members  thereof. f 

were  opened  by  a  fresh  persecution  coming  upon  themselves  from  King  James.  This 
made  his  declaration  for  a  general  liberty  of  conscience  welcome,  and  they  thanked  the 
king  for  allowing  to  them  what  they  before  thought  themselves  bound  in  conscience  to 
deny  to  others." — See  blather's  Magnalia,  book  ii.  chap.  v.  ;  Hutchinson' s  History,  vol. 
i.  p.  75,  note. 

*  Mather's  Magnolia,   book  iii.  part  i.  sect.  vii.  p.  219,  vol.  i.  Hartford  edit. 

t  The  manuscript  copy  of  this  plan,  in  the  handwriting  of  Bishop  Butler,  and  dated 


144  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

At  the  present  day,  when  an  experience  of  many  years  has  shown  that 
the  liberties  of  our  country  are  not  jeoparded,  even  though  we  have  bishops 
among  our  citizens,  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  sympathize  with  our  ancestors 
in  their  excited  apprehensions  of  a  tyrannical  prelacy.  "With  the  restrictions 
which  the  plan  just  stated  would  impose  upon  the  bishops  of  America,  it 
surely  seems  difficult  to  imagine  that  there  was  any  serious  cause  of  alarm. 
And  yet  it  would  probably  be  most  unjust  to  suppose  that  the  alarm  expressed 
was  not  in  many  cases  truly  felt,  there  doubtless  were  some  whose  only 
apprehension  was,  that  the  Church  of  England  in  America  would  increase  at 
the  expense  of  the  denominations  which  were  around  it :  they  probably  knew 
that  the  claim  of  American  Episcopalians  to  a  bishop  was  perfectly  unanswer- 
able ;  nor  were  they  ignorant  of  the  distinction  which  existed  between  the 
ecclesiastical  rights  of  a  spiritual  kind  appertaining  to  a  bishop,  and  the 
accidental  appendages  of  temporal  power,  which  had  been  conferred  by  man, 
but  which  formed  no  necessary  part  of  the  Episcopal  office. 

There  were  others,  however,  less  informed,  who  honestly  dreaded  the 
introduction  of  bishops,  as  a  measure  pregnant  with  danger  to  their  liberties. 
The  very  name  was  associated  inseparably  in  their  minds  with  spiritual  courts 
and  tithes,  and  a  long  et  cetera  of  grievances,  which  from  boyhood  had 
formed  the  subject  of  unalterable  hatred  and  pious  anathema.  "With  them, 
bishop  and  tyrant  were  synonymous  terms* 

The  prejudices  implanted  by  early  education  disqualified  them  from  view- 
ing the  subject  dispassionately.  They  were  not  sufficiently  informed  upon 
the  point  to  make  a  sober  decision.  The  claim  urged  by  Episcopalians  to 
enjoy  equally  with  all  their  fellow-citizens  the  exercise  of  their  peculiar 
religious  opinions  and  practices,  was  an  equitable  claim  ;  honest  men  felt  it  to 
be  so  ;  had  they  but  understood  that  it  was  possible  for  a  bishop  to  be  one 
divested  of  all  temporal  power,  and  that  immense  wealth  was  not  essential 
to  the  Episcopal  office,  their  hostility  to  bishops  would  probably  have  been 
less  sturdy  in  its  character. 

Let  then  the  declaration,  that  their  opposition  finds  its  best  apology  in 
their  ignorance,  be  viewed  rather  as  the  judgment  of  charity  than  as  evidence 
of  disrespect.f 

in  1750,  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Apthcrp,  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  first 
published  by  him.  A  copy  of  it  may  also  be  seen  in  the  Address  from  the  Clergy  in 
New  York  and  New  Jersey  to  the  Episcopalians  in  Virginia,  pp.  21,  22. 

*  A  striking  instance  of  the  truth  of  this  remark  is  furnished  in  the  following  extract, 
which  was  published  in  Parker's  New  York  Gazette  of  April  4,  1768: 

"  Those  apostolical  monarehs  who  are  to  chastise  us  with  scorpions,  right  reverend 
and  holy  tyrants,  who  want  to  plunge  their  spiritual  swords  into  the  souls  of  their  fellow 
creatures : — of  all  who  will  not  be  so  senseless  as  to  adore  the  mitre  and  surplice : — 
blood-suckers  who  obliged  our  ancestors  to  abandon  their  native  land,  and  leave  behind 
them  what  is  the  very  heaven  of  persecutors  and  temporizing  conformists." 

t  The  equity  of  the  demand  made  by  the  Episcopalians  of  America  cannot  be  better 
exhibited  than  in  the  following  forcible  language  of  Bishop  Lowth  : 

"  These  unhappy  churches  labour  under  the  singular  distress  of  not  being  able  to 
minister  to  their  own  spiritual  wants :  their  situation  and  circumstances  deprive  them  of 
the  common  benefit  which  all  Christian  churches,  in  all  ages,  and  in  every  part  of  the 
world,  have  freely  enjoyed:  and  which  in  that  country  [America]  Christians  of  every 
other  denomination  do  at  this  time  freely  enjoy.     If  any  easy  remedy  can  be  applied  to 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution. 


145 


There  was,  too,  a  third,  though  not  very  numerous,  class,  perfectly 
acquainted  with  the  distinction  between  powers  purely  Episcopal,  and  those 
which  were  not,  who  yet  doubted,  either  the  honesty  of  intention  of  those 
who  proposed  to  separate  between  them,  or  questioned  the  practicability  of 
making  such  a  separation.  As  to  their  motives,  they  were  probably  pure. 
Evidence  is  not  wanting  to  justify  the  charitable  inference  of  the  venerable 
senior  Bishop  of  the  church,  with  respect  to  this  class  of  opponents.*  As 
they  laid  aside  their  resistance  to  an  Episcopate  purely  religious,  as  soon  as 
American  independence  had  quieted  their  apprehensions  of  supposed  political 
danger,  it  ought  to  be  believed  that  they  were  sincere  in  the  apprehensions 
previously  professed. 

But  to  resume  the  narrative.  On  the  21st  of  February,  1750,  Bishop 
Sherlock,  then  in  the  see  of  London,  presented  to  the  king  in  council 
"  Considerations  relating  to  Ecclesiastical  Government  in  his  Majesty's  Domi- 
nions in  America."!  A  copy  of  this  document  is  appended  to  Dr.  Chandler's 
"Free  Examination  of  the  Critical  Commentary  on  Archbishop  Seeker's 
letter  to  Mr.  Walpole,"  and  it  manifests  a  studious  care  to  avoid  giving  just 
offence  to  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  country.  It  expressly  disavows  any 
intention  of  sending  a  Bishop  to  New  England  or  Pennsylvania  ;  it  proposes 
to  confide  to  the  American  prelates  no  powers  but  such  as  are  purely 
Episcopal ;  and,  in  direct  terms,  protests  against  any  tax  or  imposition  upon 
the  people  of  this  country  for  the  support  of  the  proposed  Episcopate. 

The  period  selected  for  bringing  the  subject  before  the  king  seems  to  have 
been  an  inauspicious  one.  His  Majesty  was  at  that  time  preparing  for  a  visit 
to  his  German  possessions  on  matters  of  great  political  moment ;  and  on  this 
account  the  consideration  of  the  subject  was  deferred  until  his  return  from 
Hanover ;  and  thus  was  defeated  the  third  application  which  had  been  pre- 
sented to  the  throne. 

During  the  absence  of  the  king,  Bishop  Seeker,  in  reply  to  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Walpole,  (addressed  to  Bishop  Sherlock,  but  meant  also  for  Bishop 
Seeker,)  drew  up  an  answer,  which  produced  no  effect  upon  the  proposed 
measure,  so  far  as  we  can  discover. 

We  are  now  approaching  that  period  in  our  history  when  the  hostility  of 
the  colonists  to  a  resident  bishop  had  assumed  a  systematic  form,  and  was  by 

this  grievance,  surely  in  charity  it  will  not  be  denied  to  their  petitions  :  in  justice  it  cannot 
be  refused  to  their  demands.     The  proper  and  only  remedy  hath  long  since  been  pointed 

out : the  appointment  of  one  or  more  resident  bishops  for  the  exercise  of  offices  purely 

Episcopal  in  the  American  Church  of  England :— offices,  to  which  the  members  ot  the 
Church  of  England  have  an  undeniable  claim,  and  from  which  they  cannot  be  precluded 
without  manifest  injustice  and  oppression:'  And  again — "  Unless  groundless  fears, 
invidious  surmises,  injurious  suspicions, — unless  absurd  demands  of  needless  and  imprac- 
ticable securities  against  dangers  altogether  imaginary  and  improbable,  are  to  set  aside 
undoubted  rights,  founded  upon  the  plainest  maxims  of  religious  liberty,  upon  the 
common  claim  of  mutual  toleration,  that  favourite  but  abused  principle,  the  glory  and 
the  disgrace  of  Protestantism,  which  all  are  forward  enough  to  profess,  but  few  steadily 
practise  ;  and  which  tho?e  who  claim  it  in  its  utmost  extent  for  themselves  are  sometimes 
least  of  all  inclined  to  indulge  in  any  to  others."— Anniversary  Sermon  before  the  Society 
for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  1771,  pp.  14,  18. 

*  See  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  p.  7. 

t  Letter  from  Bishop  Sherlock  to  Dr.  Johnson,  dated  September  19,  1/50.  Johns. 
MSS. 


146  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

no  means  confined  to  those  who  were  not  Episcopalians.  The  causes  which 
led  to  the  determination  of  the  parent  country  to  impose  upon  the  colonies 
the  odious  stamp  duty  of  1764,  belong  to  the  province  of  the  civil  historian: 
our  subject  has  no  connexion  with  them.  But  the  effect  produced  by  the 
obnoxious  measure  upon  our  ancestors  falls  within  the  range  of  our  investiga- 
tion ;  for  the  political  aspect  of  affairs  at  that  day  had  an  important  bearing 
upon  the  question  of  an  American  Episcopate. 

Wounded  by  the  unkindness  of  the  mother  country,  insulted  by  a  con- 
temptuous neglect  of  respectful  representations,  and  deeply  injured  by  what 
was  deemed  oppression,  it  is  not  wonderful  that  our  forefathers  should 
abate  nothing  of  their  prejudices  against  bishops,  when  they  thought  of  the 
ecclesiastical  establishment  of  England,  intimately  blended  as  it  is  with  the 
machinery  of  her  civil  government.  From  the  oppressions  of  the  government, 
the  transition  was  easy  to  apprehended  oppressions  by  the  Hierarchy  which 
it  sustained.  The  cordial  hatred  which  was  felt  by  many  towards  that 
Hierarchy,  it  was  not  difficult  to  transfer  to  those  who  might  be  sent  hither 
clad  with  Episcopal  authority,  communicated  by  the  bishops  of  England. 
These  circumstances  were  favourable  to  those  who  had  long  resisted  the 
proposed  measure.  To  them  it  was  an  easy  task  to  awaken  a  determined 
opposition  in  minds  predisposed  to  view  with  suspicion  any  thing  which,  in 
its  fortunes,  was  so  linked  to  the  British  government,  that  it  could  not  but  be 
the  upholder  of  its  measures. 

In  England,  too,  the  large  body  of  the  dissenting  interest  readily  co- 
operated with  their  brethren  in  America.  The  different  denominations 
concentrated  their  forces  in  a  committee  in  London,  and  a  constant 
correspondence  was  carried  on  with  a  society  in  this  country,  composed 
principally  of  the  Congregationalists  of  New  England  and  the  Presbyterians 
of  New  York  and  New  Jersey.  The  venerable  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania 
informs  us  that  at  a  subsequent  period,  in  1771  and  1772,  he  was  acquainted 
with  a  member  of  the  English  Committee,  and  knew  that  he  had  free  access 
to  the  ministry.  It  was  deemed  an  object  of  importance  to  avoid  giving 
offence  to  the  dissenters,  and  exciting  thereby  their  political  opposition, 
as  they  possessed  an  influence  in  the  elections  to  Parliament  which  was  too 
powerful  to  be  despised.* 

Unpropitious  as  were  the  times  for  agitating  the  question  of  an  American 
Episcopate,  it  may  well  be  supposed  that  the  discussion  would  not  wilfully 

*  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  p.  50.  The  following  extracts  also  exhibit  the  influence 
which  the  dissenters  exercised  on  the  subject : — 

" From  him  I  first  learned  the  true  reason    of   the    Bishop  of  London   being 

opposed  and  defeated  in  his  scheme  of  sending  us  bishops.  It  seems  that  the  Duke  of 
Newcastle,  Mr.  Pelham,  and  Mr.  Onslow,  can  have  the  interest  and  votes  of  the  whole 
body  of  the  dissenters  upon  condition  of  their  befriending  them  ;  and  by  their  influ- 
ence on  those  persons,  the  ministry  was  brought  to  oppose  it." — Manuscript  letter  of  Dr. 
Chandler  to  Dr.  Johnson. — Johns.  MSS. 

"  We  must  wait  for  more  favourable  times  ;  which  I  think  it  will  contribute  not 

a  little  to  bring  on,  if  the  ministers  of  our  church  in  America,  by  friendly  converse  with 
the  principal  dissenters,  can  satisfy  them  that  nothing  more  is  intended  or  desired  than 
that  our  church  may  enjoy  the  full  benefit  of  its  own  institutions,  as  all  others  do.  For 
so  long  as  they  are  uneasy,  and  remonstrate,  regard  will  be  paid  to  them  and  their  friends 
here  by  our  ministers  of  state." — Letter  from  Bishop  Seeker  to  Dr.  Johnson. 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution.  147 

be  provoked  by  the  Churchmen  in  this  country.     Accident,  however,  appears 
to  have  brought  it  forward  in  the  following  manner  : 

The  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  had  from  the 
commencement  been  the  chief  source  of  support  to  the  Episcopal  ministers  on 
this  continent.  In  every  colony  but  Virginia  and  Maryland  all  the  clergy  of 
the  church  were,  or  had  been,  missionaries  of  the  Society.  Without  the  aid 
of  this  institution,  the  Church  could  not  possibly  have  been  sustained  in  the 
greater  part  of  what  was  British  America.  Under  its  auspices,  houses  of 
worship  had  been  built,  congregations  had  been  collected,  and  ministers 
sustained,  until  the  Society,  by  its  annual  bounty,  was  now  upholding  more 
than  eighty  missionary  stations,  and  supporting  seventy-two  missionaries, 
exclusive  of  those  employed  in  Newfoundland,  Nova  Scotia,  and  the  West 
Indies.*  Of  these,  thirty  were  employed  in  New  England,  and  truth 
compels  us  to  add,  that  they  were  deemed  intruders  by  the  descendants  of 
the  first  settlers.  This  state  of  things  produced  repeated  attacks  on  the 
Society  by  those  who  viewed  with  jealous  apprehension  its  successful  opera- 
tions. The  chief  subject  of  complaint  was,  that,  unmindful  of  the  purposes 
of  its  institution,  instead  of  sending  the  Gospel  and  the  ministry  to  the 
destitute  parts  of  the  continent,  it  sought  out  the  better  settled  and  more 
comfortable  portions  of  the  country,  and  there  stationed  its  missionaries,  to 
make  converts  to  the  Church  of  England,  of  men  who  already  had  the 
Gospel  preached  among  them  by  ministers  of  other  denominations.f     It  was 

*  Abstract  of  the  Society's  proceedings  for  1764. 

t  With  the  venerable  English  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  the  church  in  this 
country  has  no  connexion,  save  that  created  by  the  bonds  ol  a  common  faith  ;  but  there 
is  not  an  Episcopalian  in  the  United  States  acquainted  with  the  labours  of  that  Society  in 
planting  the  Church  on  this  continent  who  must  not  feel  that  he,  at  least,  owes  to  it  a 
heavy  debt  of  gratitude.     We  would  endeavour,  even  at  this  distance  of  time,  to  pay  a 
small  portion  of  that  debt  by  repelling  a  calumny.     The  growth  of  the  Church  in  New 
England,  particularly,  was  a    perpetual  source  of  irritation  and  hatred  to  the  bigoted 
Cono-regationalists:   hence  the  charge  of  making  "  converts  to  the  Church  ol  England 
was  often  repeated.     And  yet,  upon  the  best  inquiry  we  have  been  enabled  to  make,  we 
cannot  find  a  solitary  instance  of  a  Missionary  having  been  sent  by  the  Society  into 
New  England  but  upon  the  request  of  the  people  themselves.     It  was  the  practice  ot  the 
Society  not  to  send  a  missionary  to  any  place  before  the  inhabitants  applied  lor  him. 
Nay  in  some  instances,  in  New  England,  the  people  not  only  asked  for  a  missionary,  but 
at  their  own  expense  actually  erected  Church  edifices  before  the  Society  sent  any  clergy- 
men to  them.      The   Society  was  in  operation  for  several  years  before  it   sent    any 
missionary  to  New  England,  as  the  abstracts  will  show.     This  course  of  conduct  is  not 
consistent  with  the  design  "  to  episcopise  dissenters,"  as  it  was  termed.     The  truth  seems 
to  be  this-  the  Church  grew,  notwithstanding  opposition  ;  and  the  cause  of  its  increase 
is  furnished  by  an  eye-witness  (the  excellent  Dr.  Johnson,  of  Stratford),  in  a  manuscript 
now  before  us.     "  The  true  causes  and  occasions  of  the  being  and  growth  ot  so  many 
congregations  of  the  Church  of  England  in  these  provinces  are  as  follow  :— 

"  1  As  the  country  continued  to  increase,  and  there  were  many  accessions  from  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  there  were,  among  others,  many  of  the  established  Church  came 
over  to  settle  in  these  colonies,  as  well  as  others,  so  that  there  was,  fifty  years  ago,  scarce 
a  town  of  considerable  standing  but  what  had  some  scattering  among  them,  in  some 
several  families.  In  Stratford,  for  instance,  the  first  in  Connecticut  that  applied  to  the 
Society  there  were,  in  the  beginning  of  this  century,  fifteen  families. 

«2  So  the  case  has  been  ever  since  Church  people  have  settled  in  this  country,  many 
dissenters  have  treated  them  with  much  clamour,  and  contempt,  and  frequent  disputing, 
which  occasioned  many  of  them  to  procure  books  wherewith  to  defend  themselves,  such 


148  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

not  to  be  expected  that  a  charge  of  this  kind,  often  repeated  as  it  was,  would 
be  permitted  to  pass  unnoticed.  The  Society  had  in  its  employment  gentle- 
men who  were  prompt  to  repel  this  unfounded  imputation.  Among  these 
was  the  Rev.  JEast  Apthorp,  the  missionary  at  Cambridge,  a  clergyman 
deservedly  respected,  both  for  his  piety  and  ability,  who  published  a  small 
pamphlet,  entitled  "  Considerations  on  the  Institution  and  Conduct  of  the 
Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts."  It  was  not  long 
before  this  production  found  an  antagonist,  of  no  mean  ability,  in  Dr. 
Mayhew,  a  Congregational  minister  of  Boston,  who  gave  to  the  world  his 
answer,  with  the  following  motto  prefixed,  sufficiently  expressive  of  the  nature 
of  the  work: — "  Brethren  unawares  brought  in,  who  came  in  privily,  to  spy 
out  our  liberty  which  ive  have  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  they  might  bring  us  into 
bondage  ;  to  whom  toe  gave  place  by  subjection,  no,  not  for  an  hour,  that  the 
truth  of  the  Gospel  might  continue  with  you.v 

In  this  angry  production,  (for  such  it  must  be  deemed,)  Dr.  Mayhew  not 
only  considered  the  subject  introduced  in  Mr.  Apthorp1  s  pamphlet,  but  inter- 
spersed many  injurious  reflections  on  the  Church  of  England,  and  particularly 
inveighed  against  the  plan  of  appointing  bishops  for  America ;  and  thus  the 
matter  was  once  more  presented  as  a  subject  of  controversy.* 

An  anonymous  production,  published  originally  in  London,  and  reprinted 
in  this  country,  contained  an  answer  to  Dr.  Mayheio,  remarkable  for  its 
strength  of  argument,  fairness  of  discussion,  and  Christian  temper.  Such 
was  its  effect,  not  only  upon  those  who  took  no  part  in  the  discussion,  but  even 

as  "  the  London  Cases,"  "  Hoadly  against  Calamy,"  "  Archbishop  Potter  on  Church 
Government,"  and  some  even  "  Hooker's  Ecclesiastical  Polity,"  not  to  mention  some 
others  ;  and  their  thus  defending  themselves  occasioned  many  inquisitive  candid  dissenters 
to  read  those  books,  which  reconciled  them  to  the  Church.  So  that  the  dissenters 
themselves,  by  thus  censuring  and  disputing,  have  occasioned  the  increase  of  the 
Church. 

"  3.  Another  thing,  and  what  has  of  late  chiefly  occasioned  the  accession  of  multitudes 
of  proselytes  to  the  Church,  was  the  wild  enthusiasm  that  long  obtained  among  them- 
selves ;  on  which  occasions  their  own  managements  were  in  many  instances  so  extrava- 
gant and  ridiculous  as  tended  vastly  more  to  drive  their  people  into  the  Church  than 
any  thing  we  ever  did  to  draw  them  over  to  it ;  particularly  that  monstrous  enthusiasm 
that  was  at  first  encouraged  by  themselves,  fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago,  in  consequence  of 
Mr.  Whitfield's  rambling  once  and  again  through  the  country,  who  was  followed  by  a 
great  many  strolling  teachers,  who  propagated  so  many  wild  and  horrid  notions  of  God 
and  the  Gospel,  that  a  multitude  of  people  were  so  bewildered,  that  they  could  find  no 
rest  to  the  sole  of  their  foot,  till  they  retired  into  the  Church  as  their  only  ark  of  safety. 
And  many  of  these  continue  among  great  numbers  to  this  day,  and  have  occasioned  many 
separate  meetings  among  the  dissenters  themselves,  and  these  have  occasioned  much  hot 
contention  among  them  in  settling  ministers,  and  often  the  prostitution  of  discipline 
upon  the  merest  trifles,  which  have  caused  many  people  to  conclude,  that  if  they  must 
separate  from  their  former  brethren,  who  are  in  endless  contentions  and  confusion,  their 
best  way  will  be  to  retire  into  the  Church,  which  is  in  peace.  Now  these  are  all  known 
facts." — Johns.  MSS. 

*  That  we  may  not  be  suspected  of  doing  injustice  to  Dr.  Mayhew,  we  would  add 
that  his  work  was  condemned  by  those  of  his  own  persuasion.  In  reply  to  an  inquiry 
made  of  Dr.  Samuel  Chandler,  a  Presbyterian  divine  of  London,  whether  he  could  or 
did  approve  of  the  bitter  and  injurious  publications  against  the  Society,  he  answered,  that 
"  he  was  truly  sorry  to  see  what  Dr.  Mayhew  had  published,  and  had  wrote  to  him, 
signifying  the  same,  with  his  desire  that  he  would  desist." — Original  letter  from  Rev.  Mr. 
Jarvis  (afterwards  Bishop  Jarvis)  to  Dr.  Johnson. — Johns.  MSS. 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution.  149 

upon  Dr.  Mayhew  himself,  that  he  frankly  acknowledged  his  adversary  to  be 
"  a  person  of  excellent  sense  and  a  happy  talent  at  writing ;  apparently  free 
from  the  sordid,  illiberal  spirit  of  bigotry ;  one  of  a  cool  temper,  who  often 
showed  much  candour,  was  well  acquainted  with  the  affairs  of  the  Society, 
and  in  general  a  fair  reasoner."*  Dr.  Mayhew  published  two  answers  to  the 
tract,  in  which  he  abated  much  of  his  former  acrimony  ;  he  persisted,  how- 
ever, in  affirming,  that  he  was  not  "wrong  in  any  material  point,"  and  so  far 
indulged,  in  reproach,  that  he  was  animadverted  on  by  Mr.  Apthorp  in  a  very 
sensible  and  polite  review,  entitled,  "  A  Review  of  Dr.  Mayhew's  Remarks," 
<fec.  This  terminated  the  controversy.  Dr.  Mayhew,  on  reading  it,  declared 
he  should  not  answer  it,  and  in  the  following  year  he  died.f 

At  the  time  Dr.  Mayhew  answered  the  "  anonymous  tract,"  he  was  not 
aware  of  the  fact  now  well  established,  that  the  author  of  that  production, 
whom  he  characterized  as  a  "  worthy  answerer,"  was  Archbishop  Seeker,  the 
President  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel.  If  the  character  of  this 
prelate,  as  given  by  Dr.  Mayhew  in  the  extract  already  quoted,  be  honourable 
to  the  memory  of  the  Archbishop,  it  is  honourable  also  to  the  character  of 
Dr.  Mayhew,  that,  notwithstanding  the  warmth  of  controversy,  he  candidly 
acknowledged  the  merits  of  an  antagonist  whom  he  must  have  felt  that  it 
was  difficult  to  answer.  The  incident  is  one  which  reflects  honour  on  both 
the  gentlemen  concerned. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  Archbishop  was  engaged  in  England  in  the 
preparation  of  his  tract,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Carter,  of  Boston,  and  Dr.  Johnson,  of 
Stratford,  were  occupied  on  the  same  subject,  and  their  several  productions 
were  afterwards  published  in  the  same  volume,  Dr.  Johnson's  observations 
forming  an  appendix  to  Mr.  Caner's  fuller  vindication. 

The  reasons  assigned  in  the  writings  both  of  the  Archbishop  and  Mr. 
Apthorp,  for  desiring  the  proposed  establishment  of  bishops  in  the  colonies, 
furnish  perhaps  the  best  picture  of  the  disadvantages  which  retarded,  at  that 
day,  the  growth  of  the  Church.  The  principal  reasons  are  the  want  of  con- 
firmation, the  need  for  superintendence  of  the  conduct  of  the  clergy,  and 
especially  the  saving  candidates  the  trouble,  cost,  and  risk  of  a  voyage  to  and 
from  England  in  procuring  ordination.  While  all  other  denominations  had 
the  means  within  themselves  of  perpetuating  their  ministry — while  bishops 
were  not  denied  to  another  Church  of  Protestant  Episcopalians,  the  Moravian 
Brethren— the  members  of  the  Church  of  England  alone  were  excluded  from 
a  right,  the  exercise  of  which  was,  in  their  view,  essential  to  their  existence  as 
a  Church.  The  expense  of  the  voyage  to  and  from  England  was  not  less 
than  £100;  nearly  one-fifth  of  those  who  had  taken  that  voyage  had  lost 
their  lives  ;  and,  in  consequence  of  these  discouragements,  onedialf  of  the 
churches  in  many  of  the  provinces  were  destitute  of  clergymen.  These 
reasons  were  forcibly  and  unanswerably  urged,  and  common  justice  and 
common  humanity,  it  was  truly  said,  pleaded  strongly  for  a  remedy  of  these 
evils. 

To  o-uard  too  against  the  fears  of  those  who  were  known  to  be  opposed  to 
the  measure,  it  was  stated  in  the  publication  of  the  Archbishop,  that  the 

*  Mayhew's  remarks  on  an  anonymous  tract,  &c,  p.  3. 

t  Review  of  the  Life  and  Character  of  Archbishop  Seeker,  by  Dr.  Porteus. 


150  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

proposed  bishops  should  "  have  no  concern  in  the  least  with  any  persons  who 
do  not  profess  themselves  to  he  of  the  Church  of  England,  but  may  ordain 
ministers  for  such  as  do  ;  may  confirm  their  children  when  brought  to  them 
at  a  fit  age  for  that  purpose ;  and  take  such  oversight  of  the  Episcopal  clergy 
as  the  Bishop  of  London's  Commissaries  in  those  parts  have  been  empowered 
to  take,  and  have  taken  without  offence.  But  it  is  not  desired  in  the  least 
that  they  should  hold  courts  to  try  matrimonial  or  testamentary  causes,  or  be 
vested  with  any  authority  now  exercised  either  by  provincial  governors  or 
subordinate  magistrates,  or  infringe  or  diminish  any  privileges  or  liberties 
enjoyed  by  any  of  the  laity  even  of  our  own  communion."  And  as  to  the 
place  of  residence  of  the  American  bishops,  it  was  declared,  "  that  it  neither 
is,  nor  ever  was  intended  or  desired  to  fix  one  in  New  England  ;  but  Episco- 
pal colonies  have  always  been  proposed."  "  To  such  a  plan  as  this,"  says  the 
venerable  Bishop  White,  "  it  is  difficult  to  perceive  how  hindrance  could  have 
been  attempted  by  any  description  of  persons  without  an  avowal  of  intole- 
rance."* Dr.  Mayhew  very  candidly  remarked,  with  reference  to  it,  "that  if 
such  a  scheme  as  this  were  carried  into  execution,  and  only  such  consequences 
were  to  follow  as  the  proposer  had  professedly  in  view,  he  could  not  object  to 
it,  except  upon  the  same  principle  that  he  should  object  against  the  Church 
of  England  in  general."f 

And  yet,  such  was  the  state  of  excitement  produced  in  the  colonies  by 
political  considerations,  that  the  scheme  of  sending  bishops  to  this  country, 
however  restricted  in  their  powers,  met  with  but  little  countenance  from  the 
great  mass  of  the  inhabitants  :  the  opposition  was  not  confined  to  those  who 
were  not  of  the  Church  of  England ;  there  were  Episcopalians,  both  of  the 
clergy  and  laity,  who  had  caught  the  temper  of  the  times,  and  learned  to 
look  with  a  suspicious  distrust  upon  the  scheme  of  an  American  bishop,  as 
but  another  plan  for  riveting  chains  which  they  already  thought  were  scarcely 
to  be  tolerated  longer. 

The  character  of  the  distinguished  prelate  who  had  so  successfully  encoun- 
tered Dr.  Mayheiv,  gained  nothing  thereby  in  the  eyes  of  a  large  majority, 
but  was  assailed  with  a  virulence  of  invective  seldom  surpassed.  With 
unrelenting  rancour,  and  unexampled  wantonness  of  abuse,  he  was  attacked 
in  pamphlets  and  newspapers,  and  escaped  not  the  malevolence  of  his  enemies 
even  after  he  had  descended  to  the  grave.J 

When  it  is  recollected  that  the  chief,  if  not  the  sole  cause  of  this  insatiate 
hate,  was  the  aid  which  the  Archbishop  had  rendered  to  the  measure  of  an 
American  Episcopate ;  in  other  words,  his  demand  for  religious  toleration  in 
America,  it  is  difficult  not  to  concur  in  the  sentiment  expressed  by  his 
affectionate  and  pious  biographer.     "  What  an  idea  (says  Bishop  Porteus) 


*  Bishop  White's  Memoirs,  p.  53. 

t  Remarks  on  an  anonymous  tract,  &c,  p.  59. 

t  The  following  specimen  is  from  the  pen  of  an  Episcopal  clergyman  in  Virginia, 
whose  name  we  deem  it  most  charitable  to  his  memory  to  withhold.  The  extract  was 
published  in  Purdie  and  Dixon's  Virginia  Gazette  of  July  18,  1771 : 
•v  "  As  to  Seeker,  he  is  laid  in  the  grave :  disturb  not  his  slumber.  His  character,  no 
more  than  his  body,  can  endure  the  keen  question  of  the  searching  air.  Unless  you 
would  give  another  specimen  of  your  friendship,  cause  him  not  to  stink  to  futurity." 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution.  151 

must  it  give  mankind  of  his  grace's  character  to  have  such  a  circumstance 
sino-led  out  by  his  bitterest  revilers  as  the  most  exceptionable  part  of  it  !"* 

Scarcely  had  the  controversy  which  has  been  detailed  been  brought  to  a  ■ 
conclusion  before  it  was  again  renewed,  under  the  following  circumstances  :— 
At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  held  in 
1161,  the  Bishop  of  Landaff  preached  the  anniversary  sermon,  in  which  he 
alluded  to  the  state  of  religion  on  some  parts  of  the  continent.  Certain 
expressions  which  be  used,  representing  the  condition  of  some  of  the  colonies 
as  but  little  better  than  heathenish,  were  supposed  by  some  to  refer  particu- 
larly to  New  England,  though  candour  compels  us  to  add,  that  such  does 
not  seem  to  have  been  a  fair  inference.  On  the  contrary,  New  England  is 
particularly  designated  as  being  worthy  of  great  commendation  for  the 
attention  which  religion  had  there  received  from  its  earliest  settlement. 

Amono-  those  who  professed  to  entertain  this  singular  opinion  of  the 
bishop's  sermon  was  Dr.  Charles  Chauncy,  of  Boston,  a  Congregational 
divine  of  much  celebrity.  He  published  "  A  Letter  to  a  Friend,  containing 
Remarks  on  certain  Passages"  in  the  sermon,  and  as  the  necessity  of  a 
resident  Episcopacy  was  one  of  the  points  urged  by  the  Bishop  of  Landaff, 
the  door  was  open  for  a  renewal  of  the  war  of  pamphlets. 

That  Dr.  Chauncy  was  justly  entitled  to  the  reputation  which  he  possessed 
is  evident  from  his  publication,  for  it  is  not  wanting  in  ability,  and  especially 
in  ingenuity.  The  ground  which  he  took  was,  that  the  introduction  of 
bishops  was  not  to  be  dreaded  as  a  measure  at  all  likely  to  convert  Presbyte- 
rians into  Churchmen  ;  nor  was  it  on  that  ground  opposed ;  but  from  the 
fear  of  hurtful  consequences  both  to  the  bishops  and  people ;  and  he  thus 
expresses  his  views  : — 

"  Such  consequences  would  certainly  be  the  effect,  if  these  bishops  should  make  use  of 
their  superiority,  as  most  probably  they  would,  sooner  or  later,  to  influence  our  great 
men  here,  and  much  greater  ones  at  home,  to  project  and  endeavour  to  carry  into  execu- 
tion measures  to  force  the  growth  of  the  Church.  It  may  be  relied  on,  our  people  would 
not  be  easy  if  restrained  in  the  exercise  of  that  '  liberty  wherewith  Christ  hath  made 
them  free ;"  yea,  they  would  hazard  everything  dear  to  them,  their  estates,  their  very 
lives,  rather  than  suffer  their  necks  to  be  put  under  that  yoke  of  bondage,  which  was  so 
sadly  galling  to  their  fathers,  and  occasioned  their  retreat  into  this  distant  land,  that  they 
might  enjoy  the  freedom  of  men  and  Christians.''! 

Nor  did  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  escape  the  rebukes  of  the 
author  of  the  letter.  The  sole  design  of  the  institution  was  stated  to  be  "  to 
episcopise  the  colonies." 

Dr.  Chauncy  was  followed  by  Mr.  William  Livingston,  a  lawyer  of  New 
York,  who,  in  1*768,  published  in  that  city,  "A  Letter  to  the  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  of  Landaff,"  &c.  It  must  be  deemed  most  unfortunate  for  the  literary 
reputation  of  Mr.  Livingston,  that  he  had  ever  seen  the  production  of  Dr. 
Chauncy.  That  he  had  seen  it  is  proved  by  a  quotation  from  it,  accompanied 
with  a  very  slight  acknowledgment  of  his  obligation  for  the  quotation.  From 
beginning  to  end,  his  letter  is  but  a  repetition  of  the  arguments  of  Dr. 
Chauncy,  presented  in  the  gaudy  trappings  of  a  more  florid  style.     Every 

*  Life  of  Seeker,  by  Dr.  Porteus. 
X  A  Letter  to  a  Friend,  &c,  p.  47. 


152  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

passage  of  the  sermon  commented  on  by  Dr.  Chauncy,  is  commented  on  by 
Mr.  Livingston,  and  none  other  is ;  nay,  these  passages  are  considered  in 
precisely  the  same  order,  and  not  unfrequently  answered,  in  part,  in  the  very 
same  words  ;  nor  is  there  a  solitary  thought  worthy  of  note,  which  had  not 
already  been  given  to  the  world  by  Dr.  Chauncy.  It  would  be  difficult  to 
conceive  of  a  more  palpable  plagiarism,  unless  it  were  a  verbatim  copy. 

We  should  be  the  less  disposed  to  record  this  instance  of  literary  theft,  if 
it  were  not  prefaced  by  the  affectation  of  a  modesty  which  becomes  ridiculous 
as  soon  as  the  theft  is  known.  The  advertisement  to  Mr.  Livingstones 
"  letter"  contains  a  disclaimer  of  any  desire  to  come  before  the  public  as  an 
author,  and  an  expression  of  diffidence,  resulting  "  from  the  business  of  his 
profession,  and  a  sense  of  inability." 

The  next  production,  and  that  which  terminated  the  discussion  on  the 
bishop's  sermon,  was  an  anonymous  pamphlet,  entitled  "  A  Vindication  of  the 
Bishop  of  Landaff's  Sermon."  This  is  now  known  to  have  been  written  by 
Dr.  Lnglis,  an  Episcopal  clergyman  of  New  York.*  Extensive  research,  a 
familiar  acquaintance  with  facts,  a  skilful  arrangement  of  them,  manly 
argument,  and  a  keen  and  biting  sarcasm,  are  characteristics  of  this  produc- 
tion. 

Before  the  discussion  elicited  by  the  sermon  of  the  Bishop  of  Landaff  had 
been  brought  to  a  close,  the  point  in  debate  was  presented  anew,  and  new 
combatants  were  ready  to  enter  the  field  of  controversy. 

Early  in  1767,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Johnson  of  Stratford,  in  Connecticut,  suggested 
to  Dr.  Chandler  of  Elizabethtown,  in  New  Jersey,  the  propriety  of  addressing 
the  public  on  the  subject  of  an  American  Episcopate.  It  has  indeed  been 
intimated  that  the  suggestion  came  from  a  higher  source,  and  that  the 
measure  originated  with  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  Of  this,  however, 
no  proof  has  been  met  with,  and  as  it  was  positively  contradicted  by  Dr. 
Chandler,  the  insinuation  was  probably  without  foundation.  Very  soon  after 
the  proposition  by  Dr.  Johnson,  a  voluntary  association  of  the  Episcopal 
clergy  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,f  at  which  were  present  some  of  their 
brethren  from  the  neighbouring  provinces,  after  discussion  of  the  subject, 
were  unanimous  in  the  opinion  "that  fairly  to  explain  the  plan  on  Avhich 
American  bishops  had  been  requested  to  lay  before  the  public  the  reasons  of 
this  request,  to  answer  the  objections  that  had  been  made,  and  to  obviate 
those  that  might  be  otherwise  conceived  against  it,  was  not  only  proper  and 
expedient,  but  a  matter  of  necessity  and  duty." 

The  performance  of  this  duty  devolved  on  Dr.  Chandler,  and  gave  birth 
to  "  an  Appeal  to  the  Public  in  behalf  of  the  Church  of  England  in  Ame- 
rica," published  in  June,  1767.  This  production  consisted  substantially  of  a 
short  but  perspicuous  view  of  the  evidence  in  favour  of  Episcopacy,  the 
hardships  of  the  case  of  the  Church,  deprived  of  an  officer  deemed  essential 
to  its  existence,  the  plan  proposed,  with  an  answer  to  the  fears  and  objections 
of  those  who  opposed  it. 

*  Afterwards  Bishop  lnglis,  and  father  of  the  late  Bishop  of  Nova  Scotia. 

t  Among  the  names  of  the  clergy  then  assembled  are  to  be  found  those  of  Dr. 
Auchmuty,  Dr.  Chandler,  Dr.  MyUs  Cooper,  Dr.  Ogilvie,  Mr.  Charlton,  Mr.  Seabury 
(afterwards  Bishop  of  Connecticut),  Mr.  Ingles  (afterwards  Bishop  of  Nova  Scotia),  and 
Mr.  Abraham  Beach. 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution.  153 

It  was  not  to  be  expected,  after  the  previous  discussions  of  the  subject,  that 
the  author  could  present  much  of  novelty  to  attract  his  readers.  The  object 
of  Dr.  Chandler  was  to  satisfy  the  American  public,  that  the  apprehensions 
which  were  entertained  by  many  were  groundless — that  the  claim  of  Episcopa- 
lians was  founded  in  the  most  obvious  justice,  and  that  their  peculiar  opinions 
on  the  subject  of  Church  Government  Avere  built  upon  apostolic  and  primitive 
usage.  The  work  is  marked  by  a  sound  judgment  and  lucid  argument,  and 
upon  its  first  appearance  was  treated  by  many,  even  of  those  who  were  not 
Episcopalians,  with  the  respect  which  was  due  to  the  talents  and  standing  of 
the  author.  The  more  candid  acknowledged  that  to  resist  such  claims  as 
were  there  presented,  upon  the  ground  of  apprehended  evils,  which  were  all 
guarded  against  by  the  plan  proposed,  savoured  more  of  intolerance  than  of 
Christianity. 

The  first  opposition  to  the  "  appeal,"  there  is  reason  to  think,  had  its 
origin  in  disappointed  feelings.  An  application  for  a  charter  by  the  Presby- 
terians of  New  York  had  been  rejected  by  the  authorities  of  the  mother 
country,  and  the  Bishop  of  London  was  supposed  to  have  been  active  in 
defeating  the  application.  These  facts  are  stated  repeatedly  in  the  subsequent 
newspaper  publications'  on  the  part  of  the  Church,  and  are  not  contradicted 
in  the  replies  of  its  adversaries ;  but  of  the  precise  nature  of  the  application, 
or  of  its  merits,  we  have  no  evidence  on  which  to  speak. 

The  attack  on  the  Appeal  commenced  simultaneously  from  various  quarters, 
thus  giving  rise  to  a  very  natural  suspicion,  that  a  combination  had  been 
entered  into  for  the  purpose  of  effectually  crushing  the  plan  of  an  American 
bishop.  A  series  of  essays  appeared  in  the  New  York  Gazette,  under  the 
name  of  the  "  American  Whig  ;"■*  while  the  Pennsylvania  Journal  in  Phila- 
delphia gave  to  the  world  the  lucubrations  of  the  "  Sentinel,"  and  Dr. 
Chaunaj  of  Boston  (in  his  proper  name)  published  the  "Appeal  to  the 
Public  Answered."  The  violent  invectives  of  the  Whig  were  re-published  in 
the  papers  of  Philadelphia  and  Boston,  while  the  alarm  sounded  in  Philadel- 
phia by  the  Sentinel  was  instantly  echoed  from  the  presses  of  the  sister 
cities  ;  and  thus  was  concentrated  the  opposition  of  the  three  principal  cities 
into  an  attack  more  fierce  than  any  which  had  preceded  it. 

It  is  impossible  to  read  many  of  these  publications  without  a  hunuliatino- 
sense  of  the  infirmity  of  our  nature.  If  in  some,  the  questions  fairly  involved 
are  discussed  in  the  spirit  of  manly  argument,  in  the  greater  part  abusive 
personalities  supply  the  place  of  facts,  and  railing  is  substituted  for  rea- 
soning. 

Nor  is  it  intended  to  exempt  from  this  censure  many  of  the  publications 
on  the  part  of  the  Episcopalians.  The  American  Whig  soon  found  an 
antagonist  under  the  assumed  name  of  "  Timothy  Tickler,"  who  followed  its 
successive  numbers  with  what  he  termed  "  A  Whip  for  the  American  Whig," 
and  it  must  be  confessed  that  his  lash  is  often  laid  on  with  merciless  severity. 
There  runs  through  his  writings  a  bitterness  of  spirit  not  to  be  commended, 
and  both  these  essayists  will  be  laid  aside  by  the  candid  reader  with  the 
feeling  that  the  contest  between  them  was,  which  could  call  the  hardest 
names. 

*  These  were  attributed  to  Mr.  William  Livingston,  already  mentioned. 


154  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

The  Sentinel  was  met  in  Philadelphia  by  a  gentleman  whose  talents  have 
seldom  been  surpassed.  Dr.  William  Smith,  who  for  years  had  been  an 
attentive  observer  and  a  prominent  actor  in  the  concerns  of  the  American 
Episcopal  Church,  came  before  the  public  in  a  series  of  essays  under  the  title 
of  "  The  Anatomist."  Of  all  the  newspaper  productions  of  that  time,  this 
will  probably  be  read  with  most  interest ;  for  though  not  entirely  free  from 
bitterness,  it  is  yet,  for  the  most  part,  made  up  of  facts  and  reasoning.  There 
are  exhibited  a  calm  self-possession  and  a  coolness  of  mind  which  it  is  obvious 
were  the  result  of  the  author's  conviction  that  his  cause  was  good.  He  is 
never  roused  to  unbecoming  anger,  and  but  seldom  stoops  to  retort  abuse. 
Still  these  essays  are  severe,  but  their  severity  consists  principally  in  the 
unanswerable  nature  of  their  arguments. 

The  newspaper  essays  already  mentioned  were  the  most  prominent  m  the 
controversy  ;  but  they  were  not  all.  There  were  "  Remonstrants"  and  "  Anti- 
Sentinel  "  not  remarkable  for  ability :  but  for  scurrility  and  vulgar  humour 
the  meed  of  superiority  is  justly  due  to  "  A  Kick  for  the  Whipper,  by  Sir 
Isaac  Foot."     The  author  aims  at  wit,  and  reaches  blackguardism. 

It  is  due  to  Dr.  Chandler  to  say  that  in  all  his  writings  on  this  subject,  he 
preserved  his  dignity.  In  reply  to  Dr.  Chauncy,  he  published  "  The  Appeal 
Defended,"  and^subsequently,  in  1771,  "The  Appeal  Further  Defended,"  in 
answer  to  a  second  production  of  Dr.  Chauncy. 

Of  the  arguments  urged*  nothing  remains  to  be  added  to  what  has  already 
been  said  in  the  history  of  the  discussion  between  Dr.  Mayhew  and  Mr. 
Apthorp.  The  reasons  for  desiring  the  proposed  Episcopate  remained 
unaltered  ;  all  that  Dr.  Chandler  could  say  had  already  been  said.  He  was 
able  only  to  refer  to  facts  more  evidently  showing  the  inconveniences  under 
which  the  Church  laboured,*  and  to  remove  prejudice  as  far  as  possible.  _ 

While  the  controversies  of  which  we  have  spoken  were  at  their  height, 
legislative  interference  was  not  wanting  to  oppose  obstacles  to  the  obnoxious 
measure.  The  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  was  the  first  to  interfere.  At 
the  period  of  which  we  are  writing,  Dennis  de  Berdt,  Esq.,  was  agent  to  the 
province  in  London,  and  to  him  on  the  12th  of  January,  1768,  the  House  of 
Representatives  addressed  a  letter,  from  which  the  following  extract  is 
taken : — 

*  Shortly  before  the  appeal  was  written,  two  missionaries  perished  in  one  ship  upon 
the  coast  of  New  Jersey,  almost  in  sight  of  their  port,  one  of  whom  left  a  family  in  N. 
York  dependent  upon  charity.  But  one  of  the  most  remarkable  instances  of  the  incon- 
venience and  risk  of  obtaining  orders  in  England  was  furnished  in  the  history  ot  the 
parish  of  Hebron  in  Connecticut.  For  nearly  twenty  years  that  congregation  exerted 
themselves,  and  without  success,  to  obtain  a  minister  at  their  own  expense.  They  first 
sent  over  Mr  Dean,  in  1745,  who  was  admitted  to  holy  orders  and  appointed  their 
missionary  but  in  returning  he  is  supposed  to  have  perished,  as  the  ship  was  never  heard 
of  The  next  was  Mr.  Colton,  who  in  1752  died  on  his  passage  from  London.  Ihe 
third  candidate  sent  to  England  by  this  unfortunate  people,  was  Mr.  Usher,  who,  on  his 
passage  in  1757,  was  taken  by  the  French,  and  died  a  prisoner  in  the  castle  of  Hayonne. 
The  fourth  was  Mr.  Peters,  who  in  1759,  very  soon  after  his  arrival  in  England  was 
taken  with  the  small  pox,  and  narrowly  escaping  with  his  life,  to  the  great  joy  oi  his 
people,  at  length  reached  them  and  officiated  as  their  missionary.— The  Appeal  further 
Defended,  p.  127-128. 

About  one-fifth  of  all  who  ever  went  for  orders  never  saw  their  homes  again. 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution.  155 

"  The  establishment  of  a  Protestant  Episcopate  in  America  is  also  very  zealously  con- 
tended for :  and  it  is  very  alarming  to  a  people  whose  fathers,  from  the  hardships  they 
suffered  under  such  an  establishment,  were  obliged  to  fly  their  native  country  into  a  wil- 
derness, in  order  peaceably  to  enjoy  their  privileges,  civil  and  religious :  Their  being 
threatened  with  the  loss  of  both  at  once,  must  throw  them  into  a  very  disagreeable 
situation.  We  hope  in  God  such  an  establishment  will  never  take  place  in  America  ; 
and  we  desire  you  would  strenuously  oppose  it.  The  revenue  raised  in  America,  for 
aught  we  can  tell,  may  be  as  constitutionally  applied  towards  the  support  of  prelacy 
as  of  soldiers  and  pensioners:  If  the  property  of  the  subject  is  taken  from  him  without 
his  consent,  it  is  immaterial  whether  it  be  done  by  one  man  or  five  hundred,  or  whether 
it  be  applied  for  the  support  of  the  ecclesiastic  or  military  power,  or  both.  It  may  be 
well  worth  the  consideration  of  the  best  politicians  in  Great  Britain  or  America,  what 
the  natural  tendency  is  of  a  vigorous  pursuit  of  these  measures." 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  Episcopalians  were  to  be  found  who,  at 
this  time,  opposed  the  introduction  of  bishops  into  America.  The  most 
remarkable  instance  of  this  occurred  in  Virginia,  and  the  Legislature  of  that 
province  (composed  chiefly  of  Churchmen)  has  left  on  record  a  disapprobation 
of  the  measure  as  decided  as  that  of  Massachusetts,  though  resting  on  a  very 
different  ground. 

The  circumstances  which  gave  rise  to  the  interposition  of  the  Viro-inia 
Legislature  were  the  following: — In  the  month  of  April,  1771,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Camm,  at  that  time  the  commissary  of  the  Bishop  of  London  for  Virginia, 
by  public  advertisement,  requested  a  general  attendance  of  the  Episcopal 
clergy  at  the  College  of  William  and  Mary,  on  the  4th  of  May.  At  this 
time  there  were  more  than  one  hundred  parishes  in  Virginia,  and  most  of 
them  supplied.  On  the  4th  of  May,  a  very  small  number  of  the  clergy 
assembled,  and  when  the  proposition  was  made  to  address  the  king  in  behalf 
of  an  American  Episcopate,  most  of  those  present  desired  the  commissary  to 
call  another  meeting  and  inform  the  clergy  of  the  nature  of  the  business  to 
be  considered. 

This  was  done,  and  on  the  4th  of  June,  twelve  clergymen  only  attended,  a 
number  less  than  that  of  the  former  meeting.  The  first  question  considered 
was,  whether  such  a  minority  of  the  clergy  could  be  deemed  a  convention  of 
the  Virginia  clergy  :  it  was  determined  (not  without  opposition)  that  it  was 
a  convention.  The  proposition  to  address  the  king  was  then  considered  and 
determined  in  the  negative.  A  third  question  was  then  proposed,  whether 
the  convention  should  apply  to  the  Bishop  of  London  for  his  opinion  and 
advice ;  and  in  the  propriety  of  this  measure  there  was  a  unanimous  con- 
currence. 

But  before  adjournment  a  successful  effort  was  made  to  reconsider  the  vote 
upon  the  subject  of  the  address  to  the  king,  and  it  was  finally  resolved  on. 
The  grounds  taken  in  opposition  were,  respect  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  the 
disturbances  occasioned  by  the  stamp  act,  a  recent  rebellion  or  civil  war  in 
North  Carolina  just  suppressed,  and  the  general  clamour  at  that  time ;  there 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  the  slightest  objection  to  Episcopacy,  as  such ; 
but  on  the  contrary,  there  is  a  distinct  declaration  of  cordial  and  conscientious 
approval  of  the  government  of  the  church  by  the  bishops. 

Against  the  vote  determining  to  address  the  king,  two  clergymen  of 
eminence  solemnly  protested :  they  were  Samuel  Henley,  Professor  of  Moral 
Philosophy,  and  Thomas  Gwatkin,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural 
Philosophy,  in  the  College.     The  reasons  assigned  in  the  protest  were  : 


156  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

"  First.  Because  as  the  number  of  the  clergy  in  this  colony  is  at  least  a  hundred,  we 
cannot  conceive  that  twelve  clergymen  are  a  sufficient  representation  of  so  large  a 
body. 

"  Secondly.  Because  the  said  resolution  contradicts  a  former  resolution  of  the  same  con- 
vention, which  puts  a  negative  upon  the  question,  whether  the  king  should  be  addressed 
upon  an  American  Episcopate?  and  that  an  assembly  met  upon  so  important  an  occa- 
sion should  rescind  a  resolution  agreed  to  and  entered  down  but  a  few  minutes  before,  is 
in  our  apprehension  contrary  to  all  order  and  decorum. 

"  Thirdly.  Because  the  expression  American  Episcopate  includes  a  jurisdiction  over 
the  other  colonies  ;  and  the  clergy  of  Virginia  cannot,  with  any  propriety,  petition  for  a 
measure  which,  for  aught  that  appears  to  the  contrary,  will  materially  affect  the 
natural  rights  and  fundamental  laws  of  the  said  colonies,  without  their  consent  and 
approbation. 

"  Fourthly.  Because  the  establishment  of  an  American  Episcopate  at  this  time  would 
tend  greatly  to  weaken  the  connexion  between  the  mother  country  and  her  colonies,  to 
continue  their  present  unhappy  disputes,  to  infuse  jealousies  and  fears  into  the  minds  of 
Protestant  Dissenters,  and  to  give  ill-disposed  persons  occasion  to  raise  such  disturbances 
as  may  endanger  the  very  existence  of  the  British  empire  in  America. 

"  Fifthly.  Because  we  cannot  help  considering  it  as  extremely  indecent  for  the  clergy 
to  make  such  an  application  without  the  concurrence  of  the  President,  Council,  and 
Representatives  of  this  province :  an  usurpation  directly  repugnant  to  the  rights  of 
mankind.  .... 

"  Sixthly.  Because  the  Bishops  of  London  have  always  hitherto  exercised  ecclesiastical 
jurisdiction  over  this  colony  ;  and  we  are  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  mild,  just,  and 
equitable  government  of  our  excellent  diocesan,  the  present  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  and 
do  think  a  petition  to  the  crown  to  strip  his  Lordship  of  any  part  of  his  jurisdiction  but 
an  ill  return  for  his  past  labours,  and  contrary  to  our  oath  of  canonical  obedience.  We 
do  farther  conceive,  as  it  had  been  unanimously  determined  by  this  very  convention,  that 
his  Lordship  should  be  addressed  for  his  opinion  relative  to  this  measure,  the  clergy  ought 
to  have  waited  for  his  Lordship's  paternal  advice  before  they  had  proceeded  any  farther 
in  an  affair  of  such  vast  importance. 

"  Seventhly.  Because  we  have  particular  objections  to  that  part  of  the  resolution  by 
which  the  committee  are  directed  to  apply,  as  it  is  termed,  for  the  hands  of  the  majority 
of  the  clergy  of  this  colony :  a  method  of  proceeding,  in  our  opinion,  contrary  to  the 
universal  practice  of  the  Christian  Church,  it  having  been  customary  for  the  clergy  to 
sign  all  acts  of  an  ecclesiastical  nature  in  public  convention  :  whereas  the  manner  of 
procuring  their  concurrence,  now  proposed,  is  unworthy  the  decorum  and  dignity  by 
which  so  venerable  a  body  ought  ever  to  be  guided." 

This  matter  was  deemed  of  sufficient  importance  to  occupy  the  attention  of 
the  House  of  Burgesses,  and  on  the  12th  of  July,  they  passed  the  following 
vote : 

«  Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  That  the  thanks  of  this  house  be  given  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Henley,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gwatkin,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hewitt,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bland* 
for  the  wise  and  well-timed  opposition  they  have  made  to  the  pernicious  project  of  a  few 
mistaken  clergymen  for  introducing  an  American  bishop :  a  measure  by  which  much 
disturbance,  great  anxiety,  and  apprehension  would  certainly  take  place  among  his 
Majesty's  faithful  American  subjects  ;  and  that  Mr.  Richard  Henry  Lee  and  Mr.  Bland 
do  acquaint  them  therewith." 

The  circumstances  which  we  have  just  detailed  unfortunately  produced  a 
coldness  between  the  Episcopalians  of  Virginia  and  those  of  the  northern 
provinces.     The  clergy  at  whose  request  Dr.   Chandler  had  prepared  the 

*  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Hewitt  and  Bland  subsequently  protested,  or  joined  in  the  protest 
of  Messrs.  Henley  and  Gwatkin. 


Episcopate  before  the  Revolution.  157 

"  Appeal,"  appointed  a  committee,  who  prepared  "  An  Address  from  the 
Clergy  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  to  the  Episcopalians  in  Virginia." 
This  was  published  in  1771,  and  in  1772  a  spirited  pamphlet,  in  reply,  was 
published  by  Mr.  Gwatkin. 

There  is  a  warmth  of  feeling  betrayed  in  the  Address  and  in  Mr.  Gwatkin's 
answer,  the  more  to  be  lamented  because  it  is  obvious  that  the  opinion  of 
both  parties  was  substantially  the  same  on  all  the  points  ■  discussed,  save  one, 
viz.,  the  expediency  at  that  time  of  making  the  proposed  effort.  Mr. 
Gwatkin  explicitly  declares  that  the  authors  of  the  protest  "have  not  any 
aversion  to  Episcopacy  in  general,  to  that  mode  of  it  established  in  England, 
or  even  to  an  American  Episcopate  introduced  at  a  proper  time,  by  proper 
authorities,  and  in  a  proper  manner." 

The  grounds  of  opposition  to  an  "  immediate  establishment"  are  stated  to 
be  "  a  prudential  regard  to  the  practicable,  a  desire  to  preserve  peace,  heal 
divisions,  and  calm  the  angry  passions  of  an  inflamed  people." 

And  on  this  point  of  expediency,  it  will  probably  now  be  confessed  that  the 
clergy  of  Virginia  judged  wisely.  It  certainly  was  a  time  when,  in  addition 
to  all  the  objections  urged  on  former  occasions,  there  might  have  been 
presented  the  powerful  consideration  that  the  people  of  this  country  were 
hostile  to  the  measure  on  political  grounds,  that  they  were  fast  verging  to  the 
point  when  they  would  not  hesitate  to  resort  to  arms  against  the  mother 
country,  that  the  adoption  of  the  scheme  would  inevitably  exasperate  the 
colonies  to  a  forcible  resistance  in  many  parts  of  the  continent.  All  this  was 
known  at  home,  and  therefore  the  application  was  calculated  only  to  increase 
the  hostility  among  the  colonists,  without  the  slightest  prospect  of  accomplish- 
ing any  good. 

Considerations  of  this  kind  seem  to  have  been  present  to  the  mind  of  Dr. 
Smith,  for  in  the  concluding  sentence  of  the  "Anatomist"  (which  is  termi- 
nated abruptly  before  he  had  finished  the  discussion  of  all  the  points 
proposed),  he  uses  this  language  : 

"  But,  in  truth,  from  the  gloomy  prospect  that  seems  gathering  against  us  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic,  it  might  be  better  for  you  and  for  me  to  cultivate  domestic  harmony 
for  the  present,  and  to  suspend  the  settlement  of  our  remaining  differences  to  a  more 
convenient  season." 


11 


THOUGHTS 

UPON  THE  PRESENT  STATE  OF  THE 

CHURCH    OF     ENGLAND 

IN  AMERICA. 

^Written  in  1*764, — Author  uncertain^ 


As  the  Civil,  Commercial,  and  Military  States  of  America  are  at  present 
under  the  consideration  of  his  Majesty's  Ministers,  it  is  humbly  hoped  that,  as 
soon  as  there  is  leisure  to  go  through  this  extensive  subject,  the  State  of  the 
Church  of  England  in  those  parts  will  also  be  regarded,  and  the  design  so 
often  mentioned,  and  so  often  misunderstood,  of  having  Bishops  appointed 
and  settled  in  the  Episcopal  Colonies,  will  be  maturely  and  impartially  con- 
sidered. The  great  accession  to  the  British  Empire  in  America  calls  for  due 
attention  to  the  Episcopal  affairs  there  at  this  crisis.  It  cannot  be  thought 
presumptuous  to  revive  this  subject  now  with  all  respect  and  submission. 
It  would  be  an  omission  not  to  do  it,  and  it  seems  necessary  to  determine 
upon  it  at  this  juncture ;  to  reject  or  to  model  this  Design,  which  to  many 
experienced  wise  and  good  men,  conversant  in  these  Countries,  appears  so 
desirable  for  the  sake  of  Government  as  well  as  Religion. 

The  Church  of  England  is  established  in  many  Colonies,  but  without 
considering  it  established  it  seems  even  from  the  charters  of  the  Colonies  of 
New  England  to  have  an  equitable  claim  to  have  order  settled  amongst_  its 
members  according  to  its  own  discipline,  as  well  as  every  other  Persuasion. 
Protestant  Churches,  of  all  Denominations,  there,  provide  a  succession  of 
Ministers  amongst  themselves.  This  is  the  case  of  every  Christian  Church  in 
the  world  except  the  Church  of  England  in  America.  To  supply  that 
Ministry  at  great  hazard  and  expence,  a  Voyage  to  England^  must  be 
incurred  by  the  natives  of  America,  let  them  be  ever  so  well  qualified;  and 
in  consequence  of  the  Difficulties  many  improper  persons  are  unavoidably 
sent  from  hence. 

The  great  New  England  Colonies  were  founded  by  those  who  fled  from  the 
Intolerance  of  the  Church  here  in  the  last  century  ;  and  they  enjoy  there  full 
and  free  liberty  of  conscience,  and  order  in  regard  to  their  Ministers  and 
Churches.  The  Principle  is  right,  that  it  is  not  advisable  to  send  Bishops 
unto  those  Colonies,  nor  was  it  ever  meant  to  disturb  the  minds  of  those 
subjects  of  his  Majesty  by  such  a  proceeding,  or  to  infringe  upon  any  one's 
Liberty  in  any  Colony ;  but  to  model  everything  upon  the  most  extensive 


Church  of  England  in  America,  1764.  159 

Principles  of  Toleration.  The  Church  of  England  is  the  only  one  in  those 
parts  distinguished  by  the  want  of  the  compleat  Exercise  of  Religion  accord- 
ing to  its  Kites  and  Ceremonies,  whilst  it  desires  that  all  its  fellow  Pro- 
testants may  enjoy  the  full  exercise  of  their  religion  without  any  obstruction, 
according  to  their  forms  in  every  part  of  his  Majesty's  dominions. 

Though  the  Colonies  settled  with  those  who  dissent  from  the  Church  of 
England  are  extensive  and  respectable,  yet  let  it  at  the  same  time  be  consi- 
dered that  there  are  very  great,  equally  great  numbers  of  Episcopalians  in 
America,  who  have  equally  an  earnest  desire  and  a  fair  claim  to  have  the  order 
of  their  Church  completed  which  hath  never  been ;  and  from  this  defect  have 
arisen  many  inconveniencies  and  mischiefs ;  and  as  the  concerns  of  Great 
Britain  are  enlarged,  more  inconveniencies  and  mischiefs  must  consequently 
arise  both  to  Church  and  State. 

The  Bishop  of  London,  by  customary  usage  (which  seems  to  have  taken 
its  rise  from  accidental  connexion)  hath  exercised  Jurisdiction  by  his  Commis- 
sar)'- in  the  Plantations.  The  first  mention  of  it  is  in  1620.  Instructions 
were  given  at  different  times  to  the  Governors  that  the  Clergy  and  School- 
masters should  have  Certificates  of  their  Conformity  from  the  Bishop  of 
London.  Accordingly  he  Ordained  and  gave  Certificates  to  those  that  went 
to  America ;  and  in  1685  the  Governors  are  directed  to  give  all  countenance 
to  the  Bishop  of  London's  Jurisdiction,  except  in  collating  to  Benefices, 
granting  Licenses  for  Marriages,  and  Probates  of  Wills,  which  are  reserved 
to  the  Governors.  So  passed  the  Bishop  of  London's  Pastoral  care  of  the 
Colonies,  very  imperfectly  indeed  as  to  any  real  benefit  to  Religion.  In 
1725,  Sir  Philip  York  and  Sir  Clement  Wearg,  then  Attorney  and  Solicitor 
General,  in  a  Report  to  the  Privy  Council,  declared  that  the  whole  Ecclesias- 
tical Jurisdiction  was  in  the  Crown ;  that  the  Plantations  were  not  part  of 
any  Diocese  in  England,  and  that  no  jurisdiction  could  be  exercised  there 
legally  but  by  Commission  from  the  King  under  the  Great  Seal.  Upon  this 
Bishop  Gibson  sent  out  a  Commission.  Bishop  Sherlock  who  succeeded  him 
in  1748  thought  the  Commission  imperfect  and  ineffectual,  and  did  not  take 
one  out.  The  last  Commissary  died  sometime  before  Bishop  Sherlock,  and 
none  hath  been  appointed  since.  The  succeeding  Bishops  of  London  took 
out  no  Commission,  and  at  present  there  is  neither  Commission  nor  Commis- 
sary, nor  any  legal  jurisdiction  in  Ecclesiastical  affairs  in  America  but  what  is 
vested  in  his  Majesty. 

The  Bishop  of  London  acts  now  according  to  the  old  usage.  But  how 
impracticable  is  it  in  him  to  fulfill  his  duty  as  he  would  wish,  in  any  respect, 
to  any  good  purpose,  even  if  he  had  a  Commission  from  the  King,  as  Bishop 
Gibson  had  !  Some  Jurisdiction  is  necessary,  but  Inspection  is  more  so.  No 
one  who  is  sensible  of  the  weight  that  is  upon  every  honest  mind  in  executing 
the  trust  of  conferring  orders,  and  the  expediency  of  that  previous  knowledge 
which  every  Bishop  would  willingly  have  of  the  character  of  the  candidates  ; 
No  one  who  knows  the  necessity  of  constant  attention  to  right  conduct  in  the 
clergy,  and  to  instruction  of  the  youth  ;  No  one  who  has  been  witness  of 
what  may  be  preserved  in  order,  or  put  into  order  by  regular  Visitations ; 
No  one  who  reflects  on  the  great  service  which  it  is  to  persons  of  all  ages, 
particularly  through  the  common  ranks  of  Life,  with  regard  to  plain  know- 
ledge and   plain  Virtue   (which   are  foundations  of  the   Principles  of   the 


160  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Community)  to  have  education  kept  in  a  right  method ;  No  one  who  has 
seen  the  general  Benefit  in  the  previous  steps  to  Confirmation,  and  the 
rational  use  of  it. — No  one  who  has  an  idea  of  the  just  Influence  of 
Residence  and  Mutual  Correspondence  of  a  Bishop  with  his  Clergy,  of  the 
Superintendance,  the  Example,  the  Assistance  of  a  Man  of  Character  and 
Discretion  at  the  Head  of  a  Diocese ;  No  one  .who  has  any  experience  or 
sense  of  these  things  can  ever  say,  that  the  Bishop  of  London  could  at  any 
time  take  any  competent  care  of  the  Plantations,  as  a  Bishop.  Nor  did  the 
ablest  prelate  that  ever  filled  that  chair  ever  think  that  he  could,  or  ever 
wish  to  continue  in  so  irksome  and  fruitless  an  office. 

It  seems  equally  improbable  that  a  Commission  of  different  Bishops  here, 
or  Itinerant  Bishops  sent  there  for  a  time,  or  a  number  of  Commissaries 
inhabiting  there  would  do  any  real  service  in  the  present  state  of  America. 
Dioceses  in  England,  which  have  been  long  formed  and  regulated,  do  not 
perhaps  require  so  much  attention  as  those  extensive  and  irregular  countries 
where  vast  Tracts  are  without  Churches  or  Ministers,  and  nothing  but  the 
immediate  eye  of  a  constant  resident  Bishop  can  produce  order  amongst 
Instructors,  as  well  as  those  who  are  to  be  instructed  in  Religion,  can' watch 
over  the  great  influx  of  Foreign  Protestants,  and  by  encouraging  of  worthy 
persons  acceptable  to  people  increase  the  Establishments  of  Religion,  and 
secure  obedience  to  Government. 

It  could  not  be  expected  that  a  Bishop  living  in  England  could  do  anything 
effectually  even  in  the  enlightened  state  in  which  America  was  in  the  last 
century  and  the  beginning  of  this.  But  the  state  of  America  within  these  last 
thirty  years,  and  particularly  by  the  late  regulations,  is  so  different,  so  much 
more  known,  and  so  much  more  valuable,  that  the  subject  of  Ecclesiastical 
affairs,  as  well  as  all  others,  is  greatly  extended  in  comparison  of  former 
times.  From  the  year  16*72,  when  a  Bishop  was  first  thought  of  for  Virginia, 
to  1750,  when  the  subject  was  dropped  in  compliance  with  a  Message  from 
his  Majesty's  Ministers,  it  does  not  appear  from  any  of  the  Papers,  that  this 
•subject  has  ever  been  fully  and  impartially  considered.  It  now  becomes 
much  more  important  for  the  service  of  Religion  and  Government,  and 
objections  may  diminish  or  disappear,  when  the  numbers,  dispositions,  and 
•circumstances  are  brought  into  view  in  their  present  state,  and  the  design 
fairly  laid  open,  as  it  is  here,  with  the  most  dutiful  and  zealous  Intentions  for 
his  Majesty's  service,  and  firm  Resolution  of  cheerful  obedience  to  his  Royal 
Pleasure  whatever  he  shall  in  his  Royal  Wisdom  determine. 

Upon  a  review  of  the  numbers  in  May,  1762,  exclusive  of  the  new  acquisi- 
tions, there  were  in  the  American  Colonies  and  the  Islands : 

Blacks 844,000 

Whites 1,260,000 


Total  of  the  Inhabitants  ....      2,104,000 


Church  of  England  in  America,  1764.  161 

Of  the  whites  the  Religious  Persuasions  were  thus  divided,  viz. : 

Episcopalians 401,000 

Presbyterians,  Independants,  and  Anabaptists    .         .         .  391,000 
People  of  various  Denominations,  German  Sectaries,  Jews, 

Quakers,  Papists,  <fcc.  ......  468,000 

1,260,000 

This  general  calculation  was  formed  as  exactly  as  the  circumstances  would 
allow  upon  particular  calculations  in  each  Colony  by  Persons  conversaut  in 
America.  The  new  acquisitions  must  increase  the  number  of  Inhabitants 
considerably. 

In  Maryland  the  Church  of  England  is  established  by  Charter,  and  in  fact 
there  are  forty-two  Parishes,  though  the  proprietor  was  a  Papist,  and  many 
Papists  are  now  there. 

In  Pennsylvania  all  Persuasions  are  united,  and  no  objections  to  Bishops 
arise  from  thence. 

In  New  England  many  Independants  may  object,  though  perhaps  not 
so  many  as  is  imagined,  and  none  can  give  a  reason  but  what  must 
contradict  their  own  Principles  of  Liberty,  and  deny  to  others  an  equal 
claim  to  such  Privileges  as  they  enjoy.  If  we  can  judge  by  the  opinions  of 
the  chief  persons  of  the  established  Church  of  Scotland,  or  of  those  who  dissent 
from  the  Church  of  England  here,  the  body  of  Dissenters  will  not  be,  as 
thev  have  no  reason  to  be,  offended  ;  though  some  of  the  warmest  in  America 
might  care.  Moderation  on  all  sides  is  more  universal.  It  is  owned  that 
order  is  necessary  to  every  Establishment  of  Religion,  and  that  religion  itself 
cannot  properly  be  supported  without  it.  Now  there  is  a  manifest  deficiency 
in  the  order  and  discipline  of  the  Church  of  England  in  America,  by  wanting 
Bishops ;  and  no  objections  against  supplying  it  will  be  made  by  any  one 
who  has  a  just  value  for  the  doctrine  of  Toleration,  and  is  a  sincere  wrell 
wisher  to  Piety,  Virtue,  and  good  Government :  provided  the  Regulations  in 
settling  Bishops  are  calculated  not  to  offend  or  disturb  those  who  enjoy  their 
Liberty  of  Conscience  to  its  full  extent. 

In  this  and  in  all  other  important  subjects  there  will  be  different  opinions ; 
and  perhaps  it  creates  fewer  animosities  to  decide  about  a  proposal  upon  a 
sense  of  its  fitness  than  to  seek  for  a  variety  of  sentiments.  Objections  arise 
from  different  motives,  from  licentiousness,  from  a  dislike  of  any  inspec- 
tion, from  an  undistinguishing  aversion  to  all  Church  Discipline,  from  old 
inveteracy  against  the  Church  of  England,  from  prepossession  against  unseem- 
ing  novelty,  from  various  views  and  passions.  In  the  late  Reign  the  fears  of 
disturbing  his  Majesty's  Government,  particularly  in  New  England,  influenced 
the  Ministers  that  they  not  only,  perhaps  very  wisely,  hesitated  about  the 
Proposal  of  sending  Bishops  in  America,  but  finally  postponed  it.  These 
fears  seem  to  have  been  carried  too  far,  and  probably  other  reasons  were 
combined  in  them.  But  the  scene  has  been  so  much  more  in  view  lately  and 
so  much  enlarged,  that  in  the  opinion  of  impartial  and  understanding  Persons 
Government  is  more  likely  now  to  suffer  in  its  tranquillity  and  stability  by 
the  imperfect  state  of  the  Church  of  England  in  America,  which  can  only  be 


162  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

set  right  by  the  residence  of  Bishops  there.  The  Heats  too  of  the  most 
respectable  part  of  the  Dissenters  are  so  abated,  that  in  the  eye  of  the  most 
timid  Policy  apprehension  of  any  considerable  uneasiness  in  that  Quarter 
seems  groundless.  There  does  not  seem  a  greater  likelihood  of  reviving 
Church  Parties,  and  Dissensions,  and  Controversies  by  this  step  than  by  the 
Establishment  of  the  Church  of  England  in  the  new  acquisitions.  Nor  can 
there  be  any  sort  of  grounds  to  foresee  consequences  of  exorbitant  Church 
Power,  of  any  Spiritual  Tyranny  or  Intolerance.  The  Inclinations  and 
Principles  of  the  chief  of  the  Clergy  manifestly  do  not  tend  that  way ;  and 
if  ever  they  should,  the  proposed  regulations  may  entirely  defeat  such  ideas. 
It  must  be  owned  that  the  probable  consequence  will  be  the  increase  of  the 
Church  of  England  in  America  when  the  present  disorder  of  it  is  removed ; 
but  it  should  be  considered  that  the  Civil  Government  here  may  receive  great 
support  there  from  such  increase,  and  that  it  is  no  less  important,  even  as  a 
matter  ,of  State,  that  Ecclesiastics  should  be  able  to  do  good,  than  that  they 
should  not  be  able  to  do  harm. 

That  there  may  be  some  zealous  Independants  in  America,  who  will  cry 
out  at  such  an  appointment,  and  alarm  themselves  and  others  with  false 
suspicions ;  and  even  that  many  persons  will  not  care  for  any  steps  taken 
towards  promoting  order,  is  probably  true  ;  but  it  is  fitting  to  be  done  by 
his  Majesty  upon  principles  of  true  Religion  and  sound  Policy.  The  objections 
of  such  Persons  might  be  an  additional  Reason  to  the  State  for  doing  it. 

His  Majesty's  Royal  Protection  is  extended  to  Protestants  of  all  Denomina- 
tions, and  the  Church  of  England  humbly  hopes  for  it  in  this  instance  of 
settling  Bishops  in  America.  This  appointment  is  not  only  useful  but 
necessary  to  the  welfare  of  that  Church,  to  the  regular  administration  of  its 
offices  and  purposes  of  Religion  and  Virtue  which  is  the  end  of  its  establish- 
ment. This  design  appears  reasonable  in  itself,  and  free  from  every  material 
Inconvenience  or  just  objection :  And  if  his  Majesty,  upon  a  view  of  the 
Equity,  the  Safety,  and  Advantage  of  it,  thinks  fit  to  give  orders  for  carrying 
it  into  execution,  the  mode  must  be  referred  to  his  Majesty's  Determination. 
However,  the  following  thoughts  are  humbly  submitted  for  consideration, 
which  occur  after  reflecting  upon  it,  and  which  though  imperfect  may  excite 
better. 

Four  suffragan  Bishops  to  the  See  of  Canterbury  or  London  may  be 
appointed- by  the  King  in  conformity  to  the  Statute  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of 
Henry  VIII. 

Of  these  none  should  reside  in  the  Colonies  where  the  Government  is  in 
the  hands  of  Dissenters,  as  in  New  England.  It  is  only  desired  that  they 
may  ordain  clergymen  for  such  Church  of  England  Congregations  as  are  in 
those  Colonies,  inspect  into  the  manners  and  behaviour  of  the  Episcopal 
clergy  there,  and  confirm  such  fit  persons  as  may  offer  themselves  for  that 
purpose. 

First.  The  Residence  of  the  four  Bishops  might  be  at  Burlington  in  New 
Jersey,  or  at  New  York.  His  Diocese  might  comprehend  all  that  is  East  of 
the  River  Delaware. 

Second.  At  William  and  Mary's  College  at  Williamsburg  in  Virginia.  His 
Diocese  might  comprehend  all  that  is  west  of  the  River  Delaware  as  far  as  the 
Southern  Boundary  of  North  Carolina. 


Church  of  England  in  America,  1764.  163 

Third.  At  Charlestown  in  South  Carolina.  His  Diocese  might  comprehend 
all  from  the  Northern  Boundary  of  South  Carolina  to  the  Gulf  of  Florida, 
and  also  the  Island  of  Jamaica,  for  the  passage  to  Jamaica  is  said  to  be  easier 
from  the  Continent  than  the  other  Islands. 

Fourth.  At  Coddrington  College  in  Barbadoes.  His  Diocese  might  com- 
prehend all  the  Islands,  exclusive  of  Jamaica. 

As  to  the  income,  it  should  be  suitable  to  such  a  character  and  sufficient 
to  secure  a  proper  respect,  and  as  far  as  can  be  judged  from  the  expense  of 
living  and  extent  of  the  Dioceses,  it  seems  that  £1000  sterling  per  annum  is 
the  least  that  can  be  allowed,  and  £1,500  is  the  most  that  is  requisite. 

The  people  of  the  Colonies  must  not  be  burthened  with  the  maintenance 
of  the  Bishops,  but  the  Income  may  be  raised  by  many  ways,  some  more 
eligible  than  others. 

There  is  £3,800  now  in  the  Funds  at  three  per  cent,  which  arose  from 
various  Benefactions  towards  this  design,  besides  £1,000  given  by  Archbishop 
Tennison,  and  £1,000  left  by  Mr.  Fisher  this  year;  and  £500  by  Bishop 
Osbaldiston.  This  might  be  employed  in  buying  houses,  stock,  &c,  at  first, 
and  other  Benefactions  might  come  in.  But  to  avoid  uncertainty,  the  Income 
might  be  made  sure  bv  annexing  some  great  Living  in  the  Diocese  to  the 
See  of  the  Bishop,  who  would  also  officiate  as  often  as  circumstances  would 
allow,  in  the  Parochial  Duty  of  it.  Some  Prebend,  or  Sinecure,  in  England 
in  the  gift  of  the  Crown,  might  be  held  with  the  Bishoprick,  as  some  are  by 
Persons  in  the  Universities  here  ;  a  Salary  out  of  the  Revenues  of  William 
and  Mary  College  might  be  added  to  the  Bishoprick  of  Virginia ;  and  a 
salary  out  of  the  Revenues  of  Coddrington  College  to  the  Bishop  of  the 
Islands.  Besides  this,  Lands  now  unappropriated  might  be  allotted  to  make 
up  a  sufficient  Income ;  or  a  small  part  might  be  granted  out  of  the  Quit- 
Rents,  which  are  said  to  be  capable  of  great  advancement  for  the  King's 

There  has  been  of  a  long  time  £100  allotted  out  of  the  Quit-Rents  of 
Viro-inia  to  the  company  there;  and  £20  has  been  given  by  the  Crown  ever 
since  1679  as  a  Bounty  to  each  Minister  that  goes  from  hence  for  his  passage 
to  America.  There  would  be  a  saving  in  these  two  articles  ;  and  in  general 
the  maintenance  of  the  Bishops  will  not  be  a  difficulty,  and  may  be  modelled 
iu  many  ways,  if  it  is  thought  fit  to  appoint  them. 

As  to  the  powers.  There  has  been  the  Difficulty  and  the  stumbling  block 
from  a  fear  of  spiritual  Courts,  without  Reason  or  Distinction  ;  but  if  the 
powers  desired  here  are  considered  fairly,  there  is  no  real  ground  for  objection  or 
Suspicion,  or  Jealousy.  The  appointment  of  Bishops  may  appear  unprece- 
dented in  the  Colonies,  but  surely  it  is  as  unprecedented  to  bave  so  many 
Episcopalian  Churches  without  a  Bishop,  and  to  expect  the  end  without  the 
means  of  Religion.  As  to  the  Jurisdiction  of  the  suffragan  Bishops,  it  cannot 
be  justly  objected  to,  as  it  is  no  greater  than  what  has  been  exercised  by  the 
Commissary  of  the  Bishop  of  London.  It  may  be  specified  to  prevent  harm, 
and  limited  by  his  Majesty  to  any  Degree  in  conformity  to  the  statute  in  the 
twenty-sixth  Henry  VIII.  No  coercive  powers  are  desired  over  the 
Laity,  but  only  to  regulate  the  Behaviour  of  the  Episcopal  clergy  and  Clerks 
of  Parishes,  and  to  punish  them  according  to  the  Law  of  the  Church  of 
England  in  case  of  Misbehaviour  or  Neglect  of  Duty.     The  directing  and 


164  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

enforcing  the  Reparation  of  their  Parsonage  Houses  and  Churches,  together 
with  a  due  Provision  of  all  such  things  as  the  Laws  require  for  the  decent 
and  orderly  performance  of  Divine  Service  therein,  should  be  also  under  the 
Jurisdiction. 

Nothing  is  desired  for  such  Bishops  that  may  in  the  least  interfere  with  the 
Dignity,  authority,  or  Interest  of  the  Governor  or  any  other  officer  of  State. 
Probates  of  Wills,  Licenses  for  Marriage,  &c,  are  to  be  left  in  the  hands 
where  they  are.  Delegates  too  may  be  appointed  there  or  here,  to  whom 
appeal  might  be  from  a  Bishop's  Jurisdiction,  and  thereby  all  irregular  extent 
of  power  curbed,  if  ever  it  should  be  thought  of  by  him.  No  share  in  the 
temporal  government  is  desired  for  our  Bishops,  but  every  endeavour  should 
be  used  by  them  to  co-operate  with  the  Governors  for  the  public  good,  by 
mutual  advice  and  assistance  ;  and  chiefly  by  sowing  the  seeds  that  will 
insensibly  produce  right  temper  and  conduct ;  and  by  instilling  and  propa- 
gating sound  principles  in  the  people,  which  are  the  strongest  hold  in  the 
structure  of  Government,  and  the  firmest  guard  to  secure  obedience.  If  his 
Majesty  thinks  fit  the  Bishop  may  be  by  his  office  a  member  of  every 
Council  in  his  Diocese,  as  the  Surveyor  General  in  his  Department.  This  is 
not  desired,  except  it  is  thought  that  it  would  enable  the  Bishops  to  be  of 
more  assistance  to  the  Governors  and  useful  to  the  State. 

Many  other  regulations  wiser  and  better  may  occur  to  his  Majesty's 
Ministers  in  a  course  of  candid  deliberation  upon  this  subject ;  and  if  the 
design  is  likely  to  be  beneficial  to  the  administration  of  Government  in 
Church  and  State,  and  productive  of  every  good  end  in  both,  surely  there  is 
no  reason  to  stop  it  for  fear  of  imaginary  Dangers  or  Hierarchical  Powers, 
which  can  never  take  effect,  when  there  are  real  Difficulties  which  may  now 
be  removed,  and  lasting  advantages  which  may  be  gained  by  pursuing  it. 

If  this  Proposal  is  not  thought  fit  to  be  taken  into  consideration  at  this 
Juncture,  there  is  little  reason  to  hope  for  it  ever  succeeding.  But  the  wise 
and  good_  men  in  general  are  convinced  from  Reason  and  Experience,  that 
the  appointment  of  Bishops  in  America  would  have  been  at  all  times  of 
considerable  service,  and  is  now  become  much  more  necessary  for  the  culti- 
vating Religion  and  Virtue,  for  the  Propagating  Principles  conducive  to  the 
Quiet  of  the  State,  and  securing  the  Allegiance  and  Loyalty  of  his  Majesty's 
subjects  in  those  parts ;  and  therefore  if  unhappily  it  is  thought  advisable  to 
lay  aside  so  excellent  a  design,  the  Members  of  the  Church  of  England,  both 
at  home  and  abroad,  will  receive  this  Decision  with  the  most  serious  concern. 
Yet  they  will  continue  their  sincere  endeavours  to  carry  on  every  good 
purpose  agreeably  to  the  Principles  of  their  Religion  as  far  as  its  imperfect 
state  there  will  allow ;  and  always  shew  themselves  faithful,  active  and 
vigilant  to  the  best  of  their  ability  in  maintaining  the  Peace  and  Security  of 
his  Majesty's  Government  in  the  Colonies. 


Letter  to  Br.  William  Smith.  165 


Archbishop  of  Canterbury  to  Dr.  W.  Smith,  of  Pennsylvania — 1766. 

"  Good  Dr.  Smith  : 

"  It  is  long  since  I  wrote  to  you ;  sickness  and  business 
have  had  their  shares  in  preventing  me,  but  the  chief  hindrance  hath  been, 
that  I  could  say  nothing  determinate  concerning  our  principal  American 
affairs,  nor  indeed  can  I  now.  The  beginning  of  last  year  we  thought  an 
ecclesiastical  settlement  of  Quebec  was  almost  made,  on  which  a  Bishop 
might  easily  be  grafted.  But  that  was  opposed  by  one  great  man  as  too 
favourable,  by  another  as  not  favourable  enough,  to  the  Papists.  Then  the 
Ministry  changed  :  we  were  to  begin  again ;  and  could  get  nothing  but  fan- 
words,  though  the  King  interposed  for  us.  Now  it  is  changed  once  more, 
and  whether  we  shall  fare  better  or  worse  for  it,  I  cannot  guess.  I  have 
begged  the  Bishop  of  London  to  take  out  a  Commission.  He  is  backward ; 
but  I  hope  at  length  to  prevail,  and  then  we  may  set  up  our  Corresponding 
Societies.  There  were  no  improper  expressions  in  the  Address  of  the  Connec- 
ticut or  of  the  New  York  and  New  Jersey  clergy  ;  but  they  came  when  both 
you  and  we  were  on  fire  about  the  Stamp  Act ;  and  so  were  not  presented. 
But  the  King  was  apprised  of  the  contents  of  them,  and  desired  they  might 
be  postponed.  The  Bishops  have  expressed  their  good  wishes  to  Mr. 
Wheelock's  School,  but  declined  contributing  to  it,  as  the  Society  designs  to 
set  up  one  in  imitation  of  it,  which  Sir  William  Johnson,  who  desires  to  be  a 
member  of  the  Society,  presses  as  peculiarly  seasonable.  We  have  sent  to 
ask  his  advice,  and  Mr.  Barton's,  and  shall  be  glad  of  yours  and  every 
Friend's,  in  what  place  or  places,  under  what  Masters  or  Regulations,  we 
may  best  begin  the  work.  I  was  at  first  for  sending  Indians  to  Mr. 
Wheelock  to  be  afterwards  Episcopally  Ordained  ;  but  Mr.  Apthorp  was 
clear,  that  they  would  all  turn  out  Presbyterians.  Mr.  Whitfield  hath  got 
such  hold  of  Lord  Dartmouth,  who  was  First  Lord  of  Trade  till  a  few  Days 
ago,  that  I  laboured  in  vain  to  oppose  his  scheme  for  the  Orphan  House. 
But  if  it  be  not  completed,  I  hope  it  may  now  be  altered.  I  wrote  a  long 
Letter  to  Mr.  Duche  in  December,  in  answer  to  one  from  him  about  his 
religious  notions.  I  hope  he  hath  communicated  it  to  you,  and  hath  at  least 
received  no  harm  from  it.  I  considered  Mr.  Peters  as  some  way  superior  to 
the  compliment  of  a  Dr.'s  Degree ;  but  if  you  find  he  would  like  it,  and  think 
it  would  be  useful,  I  can  easily  obtain  it  on  your  sending  me  word,  where  he 
was  educated,  what  Degree  he  hath,  what  age  he  is,  &c.  I  condole  with  you 
on  the  sad  loss  of  Messrs.  Wilson  and  Giles  and  your  Brother,  which  I 
mentioned  to  the  King  as  one  argument  for  American  Bishops.  You  will 
have  had  an  account  from  Dr.  Burton  of  what  the  Society  have  done  on  the 
occasion,  and  I  hope  you  will  find  that  sooner  or  later,  such  care,  as  we  can, 
hath  been  taken,  or  will  be  taken,  of  every  thing  which  you  have  recom- 
mended to  us ;  particularly  we  shall  be  mindful  of  what  Mr.  Peters  and  you 
desire  concerning  Sussex  and  Kent  Counties.  Mr.  Neill  hath  been  directed 
not  to  give  his  assistance  any  longer  to  Mr.  Macclenachan's  congregation,  as 
they  have  made  no  application  to  the  Bishop  of  London.  The  clergy  at  N. 
York   have  been  alarmed  with  a  Report,  that  the  American  Dissenters  are 


166  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

uniting  themselves  with  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  in  hopes  of  obtaining,  by  their 
means"  some  new  privileges  from  our  Parliament.  I  do  not  apprehend  any 
danger  of  that  sort.  Pray  write  frequently  and  fully  about  everything, 
though  I  should  write  seldom  and  briefly.  Yet  I  will  endeavour  to  mend  in 
that  respect,  if  I  am  able.  But  at  least  be  assured,  that  I  shall  take  much 
notice  of  your  Information  and  advice,  and  that  I  am, 
"  With  great  Regard, 

"  Your  loving  Brother, 

"Tho.  Cant." 
"  Lambeth,  August  2,  1766." 


[The  history  of  the  alienation  of  the  glebes  in  Virginia  from  the  Church, 
by  the  Legislature,  is  well  known.  The  following  memorial  will  serve  to 
show  how  manfully  our  brethren  of  the  laity,  of  that  day,  contended  for 
what  they  deemed  their  rights  :] 

"Halifax  County, "Virginia,  July,  1795. 

"  To  the  Honourable  the  Speaker  and  other  Members  of  the  House  of 
Delegates,  sundry  Inhabitants  of  the  Parish  of  Antrim  and  County  of 
Halifax,  beg  leave  to  offer  the  following  Remonstrance  and  Petition: 

"Relying  on  the  wisdom,  the  impartiality,  and  patriotism  of  the  House,  we 
come  forward,  on  the  present  occasion,  to  express  our  sentiments  by  remon- 
strating with  the  most  determined  firmness  against  the  attacks  which  are  now 
made  on  our  dearest  rights.  It  is  well  known  to  the  Honourable  House 
that  Petitions  have  frequently  been  presented  to  it  by  the  Baptists  and  their 
adherents,  praying  for  a  sale  of  the  Glebe  lands  always  in  possession  of,  and 
now  for  some  considerable  time  vested  by  law  in,  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church.  Concerning  Petitions  of  this  kind  in  general,  permit  us  to  observe, 
that  from  their  origin  we  have  always  viewed  them  with  extreme  dissatisfac- 
tion, conceiving  them  to  be  hostile  to  the  peace  of  the  community,  and 
opposed  to  those  principles  which  give  security  to  property,  in  every  free 
government.  At  the  late  happy  revolution,  everything  was  settled  on  a  sure 
foundation.  The  great  principles  of  Republicanism  were  then  established, 
and  they  have  since  continued  to  influence  most  of  our  publick  deliberations. 
It  was  then  declared  '  That  all  men  are  equally  entitled  to  the  free  exercise  of 
religion ;'  a  privilege  which,  since  that  time,  we  have  all  equally  enjoyed. 
And  the  great  maxim  adopted  by  our  Legislators  since  the  Declaration  seems 
to  be,  to  separate  religion,  as  far  as  relates  to  its  temporal  _  support  or 
establishment,  as  much  as  possible  from  the  political  institutions  of  our 
country.  Accordingly,  by  the  first  General  Assembly  that  met,  after  the 
formation  of  our  Constitution,  in  1776,  it  was  enacted,  "That  all  and  every 
Act  of  Parliament  which  renders  criminal  the  maintaining  any  opinions  in 
matters  of  religion,  forbearing  to  repair  to  Church,  or  the  exercising  any 


Virginia  Memorial  totcckinr/  the  Glebes.  16*7 

mode  of  worship  whatsoever,  shall  henceforth  he  of  no  validity  or  force 
within  this  Commonwealth.'  In  the  very  next  section  of  the  same  Act,  'All 
Dissenters,  of  whatever  denomination,  from  the  Church,'  at  that  time, 
'  established  by  law,  are  totally  freed  and  exempted  from  all  levies,  taxes, 
and  impositions  whatsoever,  towards  supporting  and  maintaining  the  said 
Church,  as  it  now  is,  or  hereafter  may  be,  established,  and  its  ministers.' 
And  by  the  fourth  section  of  the  said  Act,  it  is  farther  enacted,  '  That  there 
shall  in  all  time  coming  be  saved  and  reserved  to  the  use  of  the  Church  by 
law  established,  the  several  tracts  of  Glebe  lands  already  purchased,  the 
churches  and  chapels  already  built,  and  such  as  were  begun  or  contracted  for 
before  the  passing  of  this  Act,  for  the  use  of  the  Parishes ;  all  books,  plate, 
and  ornaments  belonging  or  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  said  church,  &c. : 
and  that  there  shall  moreover  be  saved  or  reserved  to  the  use  of  such 
Parishes  as  may  have  received  private  donations,  for  the  better  support  of 
the  said  church  and  its  ministers,  the  perpetual  benefit  and  enjoyment  of  all 
such  donations.'  This  Act  was  generally  satisfactory  at  the  time  it  was 
passed.  It  gave  the  Baptists  and  other  Dissenters  all  which,  at  that  time, 
they  demanded.  It  flowed  as  a  consequent  from  the  last  article  in  the 
Declaration  of  Rights,  concerning  Religion  ;  and  serves  as  the  basis,  next  to 
the  Constitution  itself,  whereon  the  peace,  the  prosperity,  the  security,  and 
independence  of  all  religious  societies  rest.  Therefore,  to  attempt  innovations 
now  with  regard  to  religious  affairs,  or  with  regard  to  the  property  belonging  to 
any  religious  society,  indicates  designs,  in  our  apprehension,  highly  inimical  to 
the  spirit  of  our  Constitution,  designs  of  a  threatening  and  revolutionary  aspect, 
in  their  consequences  pregnant  with  injustice  and  persecution,  perhaps  with 
tumult  and  blood,  and  such  as  we  cannot  contemplate  in  prospect  without 
abhorrence. 

"  AYhen  we  address  this  Honourable  House,  our  duty  and  our  wish  is,  to 
use  the  language  of  respect.  But  being  sincere,  the  expression  of  our  senti- 
ments must  correspond  with  our  perceptions  of  the  subject.  Neither  do  we 
wish  to  weary  the  attention  of  this  House  on  a  subject  which  has  so  often 
come  under  its  consideration.  But  we  request  to  be  heard  with  patience, 
whilst,  not  only  for  the  foregoing  considerations,  but  also  for  the  following 
reasons,  we  remonstrate  against  all  memorials  and  petitions  for  the  sale  of 
Glebes,  either  collectively  or  separately  : 

"  1st.  Because  we  conceive  it  to  be  contrary  to  the  Constitution  of  this 
country. 

"  Neither  the  State  nor  Federal  Constitution,  indeed,  say  anything 
expressly  concerning  Glebes,  or  the  property  belonging  to  any  religious 
society.  This  was  unnecessary.  They  left  such  property  as  they  found  it, 
and  as  it  always  had  been,  in  the  possession,  and  to  the  use  of  each  society 
respectively  ;  and  doiug  so,  we  conceive  that  it  ought  still  so  to  remain.  But 
it  is  not  necessary  for  us  in  this  case  to  rely  on  an  argument  merely  negative. 
For  if  a  law  were  passed  by  the  Assembly  for  the  sale  of  the  Glebe  lands 
which  have  been  in  possession  of  the  Church  ever  since  the  first  settle- 
ment of  this  country,  and  been  confirmed  to  her  by  their  own  Act  nearly 
twenty  years  ago,  such  a  law.  having  an  ex  post  facto  view,  would  certainly,  in 
its  own  nature,  be  unconstitutional. 


168  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical   Collections. 

"  2dly.  Because  it  would  destroy  that  confidence  which  we  and  the  rest 
of  the  community  ought  always  to  have  in  the  Legislature. 

"  The  Assembly  of  Virginia  has  already  pledged  its  Legislative  faith,  the 
most  solemn  pledge  and  firmest  sanction  which  a  free  State  can  give,  that 
this  property  shall,  'in  all  time  coming,  be  saved  and  reserved  to  the  use  of 
our  church.  We  are  sensible  that  this  Assembly  has  powers  adequate  to 
repeal  the  law.  But  should  it  now  be  repealed,  and  the  property  disposed 
of,  according  to  the  prayer  of  the  Baptists,  it  would  tend  to  sap  the  founda- 
tion of  those  rights  by  which  property  in  general  is  held,  introduce  into 
the  Acts  of  Assembly  instability  and  uncertainty,  be  a  fluctuation  in  law 
which  we  are  confident  is  without  precedent  in  Virginia,  and  thus  would 
overturn  that  trust  and  security  which  should  always  be  placed  in  the  Legis- 
lature. It  would  also  be  a  violation  of  right ;  for  we  think  that  the 
Assembly  may,  as  in  the  case  of  escheats,  vest  landed  property  in  an 
individual  or  society,  which  property  cannot  be  taken  away  without  an 
equivalent,  by  a  subsequent  Assembly,  with  equal  powers,  unless  at  the  same 
time  justice  and  the  constitution  be  disregarded.  Should  the  law  simply  be 
repealed,  still  the  property  would  be  held  by  a  certain  body  of  men  who 
were  in  the  rightful  possession  of  it  before  that  law  was  made.  And  a 
question  of  the  greatest  magnitude,  and  involving  the  highest  interests, 
would  arise :  whether  this  property  always  held  and  enjoyed  by  a  certain 
society,  and  still  applied  to  the  use  for  which  it  was  originally  set  apart,  could 
be  taken  from  them  without  trampling  on  their  rights  as  men  and  as  citizens. 

"  3dly.  Because  we  conceive  that  by  the  Baptists  and  their  abettors,  the 
meaning  of  the  fourth  Article  of  our  Declaration  of  Rights  is  misrepresented, 
when  they  assert,  that  in  conformity  to  the  spirit  of  that  article,  the  Act 
vesting  the  Glebe  lands  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  is  unconstitu- 
tional. 

"  That  article  declares  '  That  no  man  or  set  of  men  are  entitled  to  exclusive 
or  separate  emoluments  or  privileges  from  the  community,  but  in  considera- 
tion of  publick  services.'  Here,  as  the  Glebes  are  vested  in  us  by  law,  they 
would  insist  that  we  enjoy  '  exclusive  emoluments  from  the  community.'  If 
we  did,  it  would  be  something  which  the  community  paid  for  since  the 
revolution ;  whereas  the  community  or  commonwealth  of  Virginia  gave  no 
new  or  original  grant  to  the  church,  for  all  the  Glebes  were  purchased  and 
paid  for  before  the  revolution,  and  most  of  them  one  hundred  years  prior  to 
that  event.  The  community  only  pledged  itself  to  guaranty  to  the  Church, 
not  any  new  property  at  that  time  or  ever  since  given  her,  but  the  property 
at  that  time  in  her  rightful  possession,  and  which  has  been  hers  from  the 
beginning.  But  we  do  not  perceive  that  the  article  alluded  to  has  any 
relation  to  this  question  ;  its  object  being  to  prevent  hereditary  offices  in  the 
civil  government. 

"  4thly.  Because  your  Remonstrants,  with  the  rest  of  the  community,  are 
involved  in  an  unnecessary  expense. 

"  Glebes,  from  their  very  origin,  have  been  held  by  Ministers  and  Vestries, 
by  use,  by  prescription,  by  law,  by  everything  that  constitutes  a  sufficient 
right ;  and  yet  to  maintain  this  right  we  are  taxed,  and  that  not  only  to  pay 
those  who  advocate  its  security,  but  also  those  who  wish  to  destroy  it.  But 
rather  than  relinquish  our  right  to  anything,  however  trivial  that  thing  may 


Virginia  Memorial  touching  the  Glebes.  169 

be  in  itself,  and  particularly  before  we  will  relinquish  our  right  in  the  property- 
belonging  to  us  as  a  religious  society,  we  will  murmur  at  no  expense  incurred 
for  its  security. 

"  5thly.  Because  by  holding  this  property  no  superiority  or  pre-eminence,  as 
is  alleged,  is  conferred  on  us  by  law,  which  indeed  would  be  odious  in 
Republican  Government. 

"  We,  as  well  as  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of  our  country,  justly  abhor 
distinctions  with  regard  to  religious  sects,  or  with  regard  to  the  right  of 
holding  property;  and  as  we  enjoy  no  superiority  above  others  by  law,  so  we 
claim  none.  But  the  rights  and  property  which  are  ours  already  by  the  Con- 
stitution and  by  law,  which  were  ours  before  the  revolution,  during  its 
progress,  and  ever  since,  and  which  were  never  attempted  to  be  taken  from 
us  until  very  lately,  we  cannot  now  be  deprived  of,  without  violating  the 
principles  of  justice,  and  that  principle  of  equality  which  they  themselves 
pretend  to  advocate.  For  if  this  property  is  taken  from  us  at  the  request  of 
one  sect  or  party,  it  will  create  a  distinction  in  favour  of  that  party  or  sect ; 
and  would  be  one  mean  of  putting  it  in  their  power  to  establish  their  own 
religion  and  tenets  on  the  ruins  of  those  of  another. 

"  For  the  foregoing  reasons,  and  a  variety  of  others  which  might  be 
adduced,  did  we  wish  to  trespass  on  the  patience  of  this  House,  we  remon- 
strate against  the  sale  of  Glebes  in  general ;  and  to  what  has  already  been 
advanced,  we  add  the  following  reasons  why  we  remonstrate  in  particular 
against  the  Petition  or  Petitions  praying  for  a  sale  of  the  Glebe  belonging  to 
Antrim  Parish,  in  this  County  : 

"  1st.  Because  should  the  Glebe  of  Antrim  Parish  be  sold  by  the  operation 
of  an  Act  of  Assembly,  none  will  deny  that  the  Episcopalians  would  be 
entitled  to  their  proportion  of  the  money. 

"But  the  injustice  done  the  Episcopal  Society  must  be  obvious  in  taking 
their  Church  property  out  of  their  own  hands,  and  appropriating  that  part 
of  it  which  would  fall  to  their  share,  even  on  the  principles  of  those  who 
petition  for  a  sale,  to  a  public  purpose;  for  the  Episcopalians  are  as  able  and 
as  willing  as  any  other  denomination  to  pay  whatever  taxes  may  be  expedient 
for  the  support  of  the  Federal  and  State  Governments,  or  whatever  levies 
may  be  necessary  for  the  order,  the  safety,  or  conveniency  of  their  county,  and 
do  not  choose  that  their  share  of  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  the 
Glebe,  if  an  equal  division  is  to  take  place  after  the  sale,  should  be  appropri- 
ated to  a  different  purpose.  If  it  be  urged  that  a  majority  of  the  people  in 
this  county  have  a  right  to  have  the  money  appropriated  according  to  their 
wish,  yet  it  should  be  remembered  that  neither  in  -a  County  nor  in  a  State 
can  a  majority  of  the  people  violate  the  constitutional  rights  of  the  minority. 
If  it  be  said  that  the  right  itself  is  in  dispute,  we  reply  that  we  and  our 
ancestors  have  been  in  possession  of  this  right  from  the  earliest  settlement  of 
this  country,  and  under  different  forms  of  government ;  that  it  is  ours  by  use, 
by  prescription,  by  law,  and  that  now  we  cannot  be  deprived  of  it,  without 
compelling  us  to  submit  to  laws,  in  their  own  nature  having  retrospective 
views,  and  in  their  operation  involving  ex  post  facto  circumstances ;  which 
would  be  unconstitutional  and  oppressive.     If  it  be  said  that  the  county,  or 


170  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

people  in  the  county,  originally  paid  for  the  Glebe,  or  that  it  was  paid  for  by 
the  State  or  community  at  large,  and  therefore  that  the  State  or  a  majority  of 
the  people  in  this  county,  have  a  right  to  have  it  sold ;  yet  it  should  be 
remembered  that  the  State,  and  likewise  the  County,  by  its  representation  in 
the  State  Legislature,  has,  in  a  constitutional  sense,  '  saved  and  reserved'  it  to 
the  religious  uses  of  a  certain  society.  And  for  the  State  or  County  to 
violate  its  publick  faith,  by  taking  back  what  it  once  gave,  would  be  fully  as 
unjust  as  for  one  individual  to  violate  a  contract  entered  into  with  another,  or 
take  back  what  he  formerly  gave  him.  Neither  is  it  certain,  although  it  may 
be  so  represented  to  this  Honourable  House,  that  it  is  the  wish  of  a  majority 
of  the  people  in  this  county  to  have  the  Glebe  sold ;  for  no  fair  and  equal 
measures  have  been  adopted  to  ascertain  their  sentiments  on  the  subject.  It 
is,  in  fact,  more  a  party  dispute  than  anything  else :  and  your  Remonstrants 
are  very  sensible  of  the  disadvantages  they  lie  under  in  this,  that  they  have 
it  not  in  their  power,  except  in  their  present  address,  to  obviate  any  misrepre- 
sentations which  may  be  made,  as  both  the  Delegates  from  this  county 
are  decidedly  for  the  sale  of  our  Glebe.  We  think  that  the  Baptists  are, 
perhaps,  the  most  numerous  denomination  of  Christians  in  this  county  at 
present,  and  for  the  most  part  busying  themselves  in  elections,  our  candidates 
and  delegates  generally  embrace  the  views,  and  espouse  the  claims  of  that 
party.  But  we  also  think  that  there  is  a  part  of  the  people  fully  as  numerous 
as  they  are,  who  have  joined  no  church,  who  are  very  indifferent  with  regard 
to  affairs  of  this  kind,  and  particularly  with  regard  to  the  point  in  dispute  ; 
but  who  have  been  prevailed  upon  by  the  Baptists  and  their  partizans  to  sign 
the  petition  for  the  sale  of  our  Glebe,  which,  had  the  matter  been  represented 
to  them  in  a  just  point  of  view,  we  are  confident  they  would  not  have  done. 
This  House  cannot  be  ignorant  of  the  underhand  and  unjustifiable  means 
which  are  often  made  use  of  in  procuring  subscribers  to  Petitions  of  this  kind, 
that  too  often  principle  is  sacrificed  to  party,  and  reason  to  passion.  But  we 
trust  that  this  House,  sitting  as  the  Guardian  of  Rights,  will  not  violate 
the  sacred  deposit  placed  in  her  hands,  but  that  she  will,  '  without  favour, 
affection,  or  partiality,'  secure  to  every  class  and  description  of  men,  the 
privileges  and  rights  which,  by  the  Constitution,  and  by  Law,  they  now 
enjoy. 

"2dly.  Because  the  Episcopal  Society  within  this  county  has  been  at 
considerable  expense  in  repairing  the  Churches  of  the  Parish,  and  taking 
care  of  the  social  property. 

"  These  expenses  were  cheerfully  incurred  under  the  firm  belief — a  belief 
which  still  forms  part  of  their  political  creed — that  the  Assembly  of  Virginia 
would  never  grant  its  approbation  to  have  their  Glebe  or  any  part  of  their 
Church  property  disposed  of,  to  gratify  the  wishes  of  any  sect  or  any  party 
whatever ;  and  which  they  conceive  it  cannot  indeed  do,  consistent  with 
justice  and  the  constitution.  But  if  the  Glebe  is  sold,  this  money  will  have 
been  expended,  not  for  their  own  benefit  and  use,  but  that  of  the  Baptists  or 
some  other  sect,  as  the  Churches  will  eventually  fall  into  their  hands,  your 
Remonstrants  being  partly  deprived  of  the  means  of  procuring  a  Minister  of 
their  own  persuasion.  This,  indeed,  would  not  be  a  direct  prohibition  of  the 
'  free  exercise  of  their  religion,'  which  by  the  constitution,  '  all  men  are 
equally  entitled  to,'  though  in  its  effects  it  would  extend  that  far  ;  and  there- 


Virginia  Memorial  touching  the  Glebes.  171 

fore  would  be  unconstitutional,  inasmuch  as  it  would  do  violence  to  their 
conscientious  principles,  either  by  depriving  them  entirely  of  religious 
ordinances  and  the  means  of  instruction  in  that  Church  which  they  prefer  to 
all  others,  or  by  obliging  them  to  have  recourse  to  some  other  with  which 
their  consciences  will  not  permit  them  to  join.  And  we  expect  it  will  not  be 
denied,  that  whatever  by  a  natural  consequence  produces  an  unconstitutional 
effect,  must  in  itself  be  unconstitutional. 

"  3dly.  Because  the  Incumbent  of  this  Parish,  one  of  your  Remonstrants, 
has  been  at  considerable  expense  in  improving  the  Glebe  lands  and  repairing 
the  plantation. 

"  He  has  occupied  these  lands  for  nearly  five  years.  "When  he  received 
them,  the  fences  were  entirely  in  a  ruinous  situation ;  and  the  repairs  and 
improvements  he  has  made,  not,  only  in  that  respect,  but  in  several  others, 
have  far  exceeded  the  profits  derived  from  the  plantation,  accurate  statements 
of  which  he  can  produce.  But  if  the  Glebe  is  sold,  agreeable  to  the  prayer 
of  the  Petition  for  that  purpose,  he  will  thus  have  expended  the  little  he 
had  to  spare  for  the  benefit  of  the  County  at  large,  to  which  the  Glebe,  with 
its  appurtenances  and  improvements,  if  sold,  would  be  little  more  than  a 
mite.  It  may  indeed  be  represented  to  the  House,  that  he  wasted  the  Glebe 
lands  by  cutting  down  and  selling  the  timber.  Since  he  has  occupied  these 
lands,  there  has  been  timber  sold  off  the  premises  to  the  amount  of  thirty- 
three  shillings,  all  of  which,  except  a  few  trees,  would  have  been  given  gratis, 
as  the  rest  encumbered  a  few  acres  intended  to  have  been  cleared.  But  the 
money  laid  out  in  improving  the  place  has  far  exceeded  that  amount. 
Circumstances  of  this  kind,  however,  are  to  be  judged  of  by  the  Vestry  of  the 
Parish,  and  come  with  no  propriety  under  the  cognizance  of  any  others.  It 
may  also  be  represented  to  this  House,  that  the  Incumbent  neglects  some  of 
the  churches  in  his  Parish,  and  attends  only  at  those  where  they  pay  him  ; 
to  which  it  is  replied,  that  the  Incumbent  makes  known  to  the  Vestry  of  the 
Parish  and  people  at  large  on  what  conditions  he  can  officiate  at  the  churches, 
which  conditions  they  deem  reasonable.  "Where  these  conditions  are  complied 
with,  he  gives  a  regular  attendance,  either  at  the  churches,  or  anywhere  else 
in  the  Parish.  Where  they  are  not,  it  is  not  in  his  power.  And  your 
Remonstrants  are  astonished  that  circumstances  coming  entirely  under  their 
notice,  as  they  relate  to  their  own  church  government  and  the  rules  of  their 
sect,  should  in  the  least  be  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  others,  and 
particularly  when  they  are  so  represented  that,  through  their  medium,  the 
minister  may  be  seen  in  an  unfavourable  point  of  view. 

"  4thly.  Because  the  petition  for  the  sale  of  the  Glebe  of  Antrim  Parish  in 
this  County,  strikes,  in  the  most  unconstitutional,  arbitrary,  and  persecuting 
manner,  in  the  first  place,  at  the  rights  of  the  Minister  and  Vestry,  and 
through  their  medium,  those  of  the  whole  Episcopal  Society  within  the 
Parish. 

"In  the  year  1784,  an  Act  was  passed  to  'empower  the  Vestry  of  Antrim, 
in  the  county  of  Halifax,  to  sell  the  Glebe  of  the  said  Parish,  and  to  lay  out 
the  money  in  purchasing  a  more  convenient  one.'  The  former  Glebe  has 
been  sold,  agreeable  to  this  Act,  and  the  money  laid  out  in  purchasing  a 
more  convenient  one,  agreeably  to  the  third  section  of  the  said  Act,  namely, 
'  That  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  the  said  Glebe  shall  be  by  the  said 


172  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

Vestry  laid  out  and  applied  towards  purchasing  a  more  convenient  Glebe  for 
the  use  and  benefit  of  the  Minister  of  the  said  Parish  for  the  time  being,  for 
ever.'  In  the  year  1784,  an  Act  was  passed  for  incorporating  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church.  This  Act  gave  offence,  and  was  repealed  in  1786 ;  in 
consequence  of  which  the  several  powers  of  government  and  discipline  in  the 
said  Church  returned  to  the  members  at  large,  to  be  freely  exercised  by  them 
as  by  any  other  religious  society ;  for  in  the  '  Act  to  Repeal  the  Act  for 
Incorporating  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  for  other  purposes,'  there 
is  a  clause  to  the  following  effect,  namely  :  '  Saving  to  all  religious  societies 
the  property  to  them  respectively  belonging,  who  are  hereby  authorized  to 
appoint  from  time  to  time,  according  to  the  rules  of  their  sect,  trustees,  who 
shall  be  capable  of  managing  and  applying  such  property  to  the  religious 
uses  of  such  societies.'  We,  as  a  religious  society,  have  appointed  trustees, 
c  according  to  the  rules  of  our  sect,  for  managing  the  property  to  us  belonging, 
and  applying  it  to  the  religious  uses  of  our  society ;'  and  '  according  to  the 
rules  of  our  sect,'  made  in  a  Convention  of  the  clerical  and  lay  deputies  of 
our  church,  it  is  an  established  Canon  among  us,  '  That  no  person  shall  be 
received  into  any  Parish  within  this  Commonwealth,  as  a  Minister,  until  he 
shall  have  entered  into  a  contract  in  writing  with  the  Vestry  or  Trustees  on 
behalf  of  the  society  within  such  Parish,  by  which  it  shall  be  stipulated  and 
declared  that  he  holds  the  appointment  subject  to  removal,  agreeably  to  the 
rules  and  Canons  of  the  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
within  this  State.'  Here  is  a  contract  entered  into,  by  the  Minister  on  one 
side,  and  by  the  Vestry  or  Trustees,  in  behalf  of  the  Society,  on  the  other; 
and  that  contract  authorized  to  be  made  by  law,  '  according  to  the  rules  of 
our  sect.'  Your  Remonstrants  now  wish  to  call  the  attention  of  this  House 
to  the  tenth  section  of  the  first  article  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  and 
will  submit  it  to  their  judgment,  whether  a  Glebe  can  be  taken  from  a 
Minister  and  Vestry  without  violating  that  part  of  the  Constitution;  for 
among  the  prohibitory  clauses  in  the  section  just  mentioned  of  the  Federal 
Constitution  are  the  following,  viz. :  '  No  State  shall  pass  any  ex  post  facto 
law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts.'  Whereas  a  contract  has 
been  entered  into,  and  is  'on  record  in  the  Vestry  Books  of  this  Parish,  a 
contract  authorized  to  be  made  by  law,  a  contract  of  the  most  solemn  kind, 
a  contract  concerning  the  use  of  that  property  which  ever  was,  and  still  is 
ours,  by  the  constitution,  and  by  the  common  and  statute  laws  of  the  land  ; 
and  concerning  that  kind  of  service  which  is  the  most  interesting  and 
important  of  any.  But  all  these  bulwarks  of  happiness  and  security,  law, 
prescription,  custom,  contracts,  and  constitution,  are,  by  this  Petition  for  the 
sale  of  our  Glebe,  to  be  prostrated  beneath  the  feet  of  a  party.  _  No.  The 
Assembly  of  Virginia,  the  House  of  Delegates,  will  never  permit  it.  And 
even  were  not  the  constitution  and  laws  so  express  on  this  subject,  yet  we 
doubt  not  but  this  House  will  abhor  the  prayer  of  any  Petition,  by  whatever 
hand  it  is  presented,  or  from  whomsoever  i  comes,  which,  if  it  were  granted, 
would  disfranchise  the  citizen  of  his  rights,  and  turn  from  house  and  home 
many  indigent  families  and  many  worthy  characters  who  have  deserved  well 
of  the  Republic.  The  Ministers  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  would 
not  then  have  the  pleasing  prospect  before  them  of  living  in  a  land  of  peace 
and  equal  liberty,  but  all  the  horrors  of  proscription  and  exile  ;  for  if  in  one 


Virginia  Memorial  touching  the  Glebes.  173 

parish  the  rights  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Society  be  violated,  so  they  may- 
be in  everv  parish  in  Virginia.  And  the  question  concerning  tbe  sale  of  the 
Glebe  belonging  to  Antrim  Parish  in  this  county,  involves,  in  fact,  the  ques- 
tion respecting  the  sale  of  the  whole. 

"  5thly.  Because  to  grant  the  prayer  of  the  Petition  for  the  sale  of  our 
Glebe  would  very  much  interrupt  the  peace  and  harmony  of  this  country, 
and  involve  your  Remonstrants  and  many  others  in  much  needless  altercation 
and  controversy. 

"  The  dispute  in  itself  has  too  near  an  affinity  to  religion  not  to  partici- 
pate in  much  of  that  animosity  and  rancour,  which  are  the  unhappy 
fruits  of  religious  controversy.  It  directly  militates  against  that  wise  and 
Christian  maxim  in  our  Declaration  of  Rights,  which  affirms  it  to  be  the 
4  mutual  duty  of  all  to  practise  Christian  forbearance,  love,  and  charity 
towards  each  other ;'  and  we  are  confident  this  House  will  patronize  no 
attempt  that  has  a  contrary  tendency.     And, 

"  6thly.  We  remonstrate  against  this  Petition  for  the  sale  of  our  Glebe, 
and  all  others  of  a  similar  nature,  because  in  its  whole  tenor  we  conceive  it 
to  be  vexatious,  unreasonable,  unprecedented,  and  unjust ;  because  it  tends  to 
destroy  our  political  happiness ;  because  it  threatens  to  unnerve  our  Constitu- 
tion and  laws  ;  and  because  it  can  be  productive  of  no  publick  good,  but  may 
be  productive  of  much  publick  evil. 

"  These,  o-entlemen,  are  the  principles  on  which  we  remonstrate ;  they  are 
the  principles  in  which  we  have  lived,  which  we  teach  our  posterity,  and  in 
which  we  hope  to  die.  And  we  trust  this  Honourable  House  will  not,  as  it 
tenders  the  preservation  of  publick  faith  and  publick  peace,  encroach  on  the 
rights  of  the  peaceable, — rights  which  a  very  numerous  part  of  your 
constituents  maintain,  and  which  we,  your  Remonstrants,  hold  most  sacred 
and  dear. 

"  And  we  pray  that  this  House  will  come  to  some  resolution  indicative  of 
its  displeasure,  at  least,  declarative  of  its  sense  in  the  most  explicit  and 
decisive  tenor,  respecting  any  Petition  for  the  sale  of  a  Glebe  occupied  by  a 
Minister,  if  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  is  to  be  appropriated  to  a 
different  purpose  ;  and  that  it  will  adopt  such  other  measures  as  in  its  wisdom 
it  may  deem  most  eligible  for  a  farther  confirmation  and  security  of  the  rights 
and  property  now  enjoyed  by  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  for  the 
prevention  of  future  attempts  to  invade  them.  Such  measures  as  these,  we 
are  persuaded,  would  soon  put  an  end  to  this  disagreeable  contest,  would 
contribute  greatly  towards  the  promotion  of  peace,  piety,  and  morality,  and 
more  effectually  diffuse  their  happy  influence  over  the  minds  of  the  people  at 

large.  . 

"And  your  Remonstrants  and  Petitioners  will,  as  in  duty  bound,  ever 

pray." 


12 


174  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical   Collections. 


Address  of  the  Rector  of  Antrim  Parish,  Virginia,  to  the  Members  of  the 
Church,  on  the  proposed  Sale  of  the  Glebes  in  Virginia. 

"  Brethren: 

"  When  I  solicit  your  attention  to  what  I  have  just  now  to 
say  concerning  the  sale  of  the  Glebes,  I  am  well  aware  of  the  difference 
of  sentiment  which  exists  with  regard  to  the  subject.  I  have  only  to  request 
of  you  to  lay  passion  and  prejudice  aside,  and  calmly  and  impartially  weigh 
the  arguments  I  shall  offer. 

"  It  is,  I  believe,  generally  known,  that  for  several  years  past,  memorials 
and  petitions  have  been  presented  to  the  Assembly  by  the  Baptists  for  the 
sale  of  the  Glebe  Lands  vested  by  law  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
this  State.  These  petitions  have  still  been  rejected  by  the  Assembly,  and 
generally  by  a  very  considerable  majority ;  the  members  from  the  upper 
counties,  where  there  are  but  few  glebes,  and  few  of  the  Episcopal  profession, 
votino-  almost  to  a  man  in  favour  of  the  Baptist  memorial ;  and  those  from 
the  middle  and  lower  counties  generally  opposing  it.  So  long  has  this 
struggle  continued,  so  much  money  has  it  cost  the  country,  so  much  offence 
has  it  given  to  sober  Christians  of  all  persuasions,  and  so  little  prospect  is 
there  of  its  being  terminated  according  to  the  wish  of  the  Baptists,  that  even 
they  and  their  abettors  begin  to  be  convinced,  that  to  persist  in  presenting 
memorials  of  that  kind  will  never  be  productive  of  the  intended  effect. 

"  The  attention  of  the  Baptists,  therefore,  is  now  turned  towards  effecting 
a  sale  of  the  Glebe  Lands  in  each  county  separately.  Accordingly  a  petition 
has  lately  been  drawn  up  by  ,  for  the  sale  of  the  glebe  in  this 

parish,  which  I  presently  occupy,  and  sent  out  among  the  people,  or  soon 
will  be,  in  order  to  obtain  subscribers. 

"This  is  a  brief  statement  of  the  case,  as  far  as  has  come  within  my 
knowledge.  And,  on  the  present  occasion,  I  do  not  mean  to  lay  before  you 
the  variety  of  arguments  which  is  urged  on  either  Jde,  or  to  weary  your 
attention  by  a  multiplicity  of  words.  I  only  design  just  now  to  submit  a  few 
things  not  unworthy  the  consideration,  I  think,  of  every  impartial  and  honest 
man. 

"  To  begin  at  the  source,  therefore,  of  this  dispute.  You  know  that  before 
the  late  happy  revolution  in  this  country,  the  Church  of  England,  the  same, 
except  in  some  points  of  discipline,  with  ours  at  this  day,  was  the  established 
religion  in  Virginia.  But  when  the  British  yoke  was  thrown  off,  these  States 
became  sovereign,  free,  and  independent,  not  only  with  respect  to  civil  affairs, 
but  with  regard  to  religious  affairs  also.  x\ccordingly,  in  the  Declaration  of 
Eights  made  by  the  Representatives  of  the  good  people  of  Virginia,  met  at 
Williamsburg,  in  May,  1776,  it  is  said  :  'That  Religion,  or  the  duty  which 
we  owe  to  our  Creator,  and  the  manner  of  discharging  it,  can  be  directed 
only  by  reason  and  conviction,  not  by  force  or  violence  ;  and  therefore  all 
men  are  equally  entitled  to  the  free  exercise  of  religion,  according  to  the 
dictates  of  conscience ;  and  that  it  is  the  mutual  duty  of  all  to  practise 
Christian  forbearance,  love,  and  charity  towards  each  other.' 

"  But  this  only  goes  so  far  as  to  establish  free  toleration,  by  declaring  that 


Address  on  the  Sale  of  Glebes,  1795.  175 

*  all  men  are  equally  entitled  to  the  free  exercise  of  religion.'  Still,  however, 
there  was  a  religion  established  by  law,  and  all  other  sects  were  obliged  to 
contribute  to  the  support  of  the  established  Church.  This  was  an  intolerable 
grievance,  and  loudly  called  for  redress.  And  it  was  not  long  before  it  was 
redressed.  For  by  the  first  General  Assembly  that  ever  met  in  Virginia  after 
the  formation  of  our  State  Constitution,  at  Williamsburg,  in  October,  1776, 
it  was  enacted,  '  That  all  dissenters,  of  whatever  denomination,  from  the 
Church  established  by  law,  shall,  from  and  after  the  passing  of  this  Act,  be 
totally  free  and  exempt  from  all  levies,  taxes,  and  impositions  whatever, 
towards  supporting  and  maintaining  the  said  Church,  as  it  now  is  or  hereafter 
may  be  established,  and  its  ministers.'  And  in  the  very  next  section,  the 
glebes  and  Churches,  with  their  appurtenances,  are  vested  in  the  church  at 
that  time,  and  ever  since,  possessing  them,  in  the  following  words  :  'And  be 
it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  there  shall  in  all  time 
coming  be  saved  and  reserved  to  the  use  of  the  Church  by  law  established  the 
several  tracts  of  Glebe  lands  already  purchased,  the  churches  and  chapels 
already  built,  and  such  as  were  begun  or  contracted  for  before  the  passing  of 
the  said  Act,  for  the  use  of  the  Parishes,  all  books,  plate,  and  ornaments 
belonging  or  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  said  Church,  and  all  arrears  of 
money  or  tobacco  arising  from  former  assessments  or  otherwise;  and  that 
there  shall  moreover  be  saved  or  reserved  to  the  use  of  such  Parishes  as  may 
have  received  private  donations,  for  the  better  support  of  the  said  Church 
and  its  Ministers,  the  perpetual  benefit  and  enjoyment  of  all  such  donations.' 

"  This  Act,  seemingly,  gave  universal  satisfaction  to  the  Baptists  and  other 
dissenters  at  the  time  it  was  passed ;  but  in  a  few  years  after,  they  began  to 
petition  to  have  that  part  of  it  repealed  which  makes  over  the  Glebes  and 
Churches  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Society,  and  have  continued  to  petition 
almost  every  Assembly  to  have  this  property  sold. 

"  The  principal  arguments  they  make  use  of  to  support  their  plea,  are  the 
following  : 

"  1st.  As  most  of  the  Glebe  lands  were  originally  purchased  with  money 
levied  upon  the  people  at  large,  they  say  that  in  whatever  County  a  majority 
of  the  people  wish  these  lands  to  be  sold,  they  ought  to  be  sold,  and  the 
money  refunded,  or  applied  to  some  other  use. 

"The  sentiments  of  the  majority  of  the  people,  I  allow,  are  always  entitled 
to  much  attention  ;  but  when  they  petitioned  to  have  an  establishment  of 
religion  annulled,  as  it  justly  was,  almost  twenty  years  ago,  then  was  the  time 
for  them  to  insist  also  on  a  sale  of  the  Glebes  and  Churches.  Whereas,  in 
this  petition  at  that  time,  they  prayed  for  no  such  thing,  although  their  claim 
at  that  day  was  just  as  good  as  it  is  now.  And  if  in  one  instance,  they 
petition  for  money  to  be  given  back,  which  was  paid  under  the  British 
Government,  it  is  equally  just  that  they  should  do  so  in  every  case. 

"If  they  say  that  the  laws  were  oppressive  which  compelled  them  to 
support  a  religion  from  which  at  that  time  they  dissented,  then  let  them 
recollect  how  few  were  dissenters  when  the  Glebes  were  originally  purchased, 
and  that,  even  upon  their  own  principles,  if  a  part  of  the  original  purchase 
money  is  to  be  given  back,  it  ought  to  be  a  part  only  in  proportion  to  that 
number  who  then  were  dissenters.     For  if  they,  from  conscientious  motives, 


176  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections, 

have  dissented  from  their  forefathers,  they  can  with  no  justice  now  have  any 
retrospective  view  or  claim  to  what  was  done  by  their  ancestors  with  a  good 
conscience. 

"  Whatever  was  then  done  with  respect  to  religious  affairs  was  done  by  the 
authority  of  those  laws  and  that  government  under  which  we  then  lived. 
Many  of  these  laws  are  now  repealed,  and  especially  those  which  had  the 
least  respect  to  an  establishment  of  religion ;  and  that  government  we  wisely 
rejected  for  one  of  our  own.  And  under  our  present  constitution  and  laws, 
property  of  every  kind  is  secured  to  the  individuals  and  bodies  who  are  the 
rightful  holders  thereof,  by  everything  firm  and  sacred  which  the  laws  of  God 
and  of  our  country  have  devised.  Glebes  and  Churches  are  held  and  enjoyed 
by  ministers  and  vestries,  by  as  good  a  right  as  each  of  you  hold  your  private 
estates. 

"  You  know  that  in  this  country  landed  property  has  always  been  con- 
sidered in  the  eye  of  the  law  as  the  most  sacred  of  any,  and  that  she  puts 
forth  her  hand  with  reluctance  to  seize  it.  And  once  the  Legislative  body 
passes  an  Act  vesting  in  any  individual  or  society  any  landed  estate,  there 
must  be  cogent  and  weighty  reasons  indeed  to  move  it  to  rescind  a  confirma- 
tion made  of  that  kind  of  property  which,  in  its  own  nature,  is  the  most 
permanent,  and  rendered  the  most  fixed  and  stable  of  any,  by  the  nature  of 
our  laws.  We  are  not  now  in  the  heat  of  a  revolution.  Everything  has 
been  settled  on  a  sure  foundation,  by  a  free  Convention  of  the  people.  Nor 
do  I  conceive  that  any  innovations  can  now  take  place,  at  least,  until  another 
Convention  is  called  with  similar  powers.  For  should  the  Assembly  pass  an 
Act  to  take  away  from  one  society  the  property  it  has  always  enjoyed  since 
the  first  settlement  of  this  country, — and  by  their  own  grant,  for  nearly  now 
these  twenty  years, — it  would  be  a  fluctuation  in  law,  if  not  an  innovation  of 
right,  which,  I  think,  highly  inimical  to  the  spirit  of  our  constitution,  and,  I 
am  confident,  is  without  precedent  in  Virginia.  I  allow  that  principle  is  not 
to  be  regulated  by  precedent.  But  if  the  principle  be  of  suspicious  or 
dubious  tendency,  it  certainly  stands  in  need  of  the  authority  of  precedent, 
before  it  is  suffered  to  be  introduced. 

"  The  Glebes  did  originally  belong  to  the  country  at  large,  and  they  still 
are  for  the  use  of  the  country  at  large,  agreeable  to  the  purpose  for  which 
they  were  first  set  apart,  for  the  churches  are  open  to  all  without  discrimina- 
tion, and  the  services  of  ministers  are  tendered  to  all  on  the  same  terms. 
But  the  country  at  large  did,  by  its  representatives,  at  the  commencement  of 
the  revolution,  vest  them  in  a  particular  society.  And  now  to  petition  the 
Assembly  to  take  back  what  it  has  already  given,  is  to  petition  them  to 
introduce  a  fatal  precedent  with  respect  to  the  right  by  which  property  in 
general  is  held, — to  trample  the  rights  of  one  society  under  their  feet,  and 
destroy  that  confidence  which  the  people  ought  always  to  have  in  the  faith 
of  the  Legislature. 

"  2dly.  The  Baptists  urge,  that  by  holding  this  property,  a  certain  pre-emi- 
nence and  superiority  is  conferred  on  us,  which  is  odious  in  Eepublican 
Governments. 

"  But  the  constitution  of  this  country  is  founded  on  equality,  and  abhors 
distinctions  of  every  kind  in  its  laws.     The  laws  themselves  cannot,  and  dare 


Address  on  the  Sale  of  Glebes,  1795.  177 

not,  without  a  violation  of  right,  confer  superiority  or  exclusive  privileges  on 
any  one  denomination  of  Christians  above  another.  If  we  enjoy  any  pre- 
eminence above  them,  I  am  sure  it  is  not  derived  to  us  from  that  quarter. 

"  But  they  give  out  that  they  are  afraid  of  an  establishment,  and  that  they 
consider  the  Glebes  as  the  foundation  of  a  religious  establishment.  But  it  is 
impossible  there  can  be  any  such  thing  as  a  religious  establishment  in 
America  as  long  as  there  is  a  free  government.  Nor  do  I  believe  there  ace 
ten  men  in  this  county,  of  any  discernment,  who  wish  or  expect  such  a  thing. 
Yet  I  have  often  heard  it  said  of  the  Episcopalians,  by  those  of  a  different 
religious  persuasion,  that  they  generally  wished  to  have  their  Church  esta- 
blished by  law.  But  the  reproach  is  unjust.  This  spirit  prevails  no  more 
among  us  than  it  does  among  others.  Our  Church  can  support  itself  without 
an  establishment ;  and  if  it  does  not,  why  it  ought  not  to  exist.  And  I  do 
not  hesitate  to  say,  that  in  her  present  state,  she  is  more  pure  and  perfect  as  a 
Church  than  ever  she  was  under  the  establishment. 

"  And  as  we  enjoy  no  pre-eminence  by  law,  so  we  claim  none ;  but  the 
rights  which  are  ours  already  by  law,  we  cannot  think  of  relinquishing; 
because  if  these  rights  are  given  up  at  the  request  of  one  sect,  we  cannot  tell 
but  we  shall  be  obliged  to  deliver  up  others  still  dearer  unto  us ;  and  that 
when  they  shall  have  it  in  their  power  to  deprive  the  Episcopal  society  of  the 
property  which  it  enjoys, — they  may  next  proceed  to  deprive  it  of  the  free 
exercise  of  its  religion,  and  establish  their  own  upon  its  ruins. 

"  3dly.  They  quote  the  fourth  Article  of  the  Declaration  of  Rights  to 
support  their  assertion,  that  the  Act  vesting  the  Glebe  lands  in  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  is  unconstitutional. 

"  That  Article  declares,  '  That  no  man,  or  set  of  men,  are  entitled  to 
exclusive  or  separate  emoluments  or  privileges  from  the  community,  but  in 
consideration  of  publick  services.'  Here  they  would  insist,  that,  as  we  enjoy 
the  Glebes,  we  enjoy  '  exclusive  emoluments  from  the  community.'  They 
might  as  soon  say  that  the  Members  of  the  Council  and  Parish  Ministers 
under  the  British  Government,  who  are  now  living  in  this  State,  enjoy 
1  exclusive  emoluments  from  the  community.'  For  the  money  which  partly 
purchased  the  estates  they  now  live  on,  was  certainly  paid  them  by  the 
publick.  If  we  enjoyed  any  '  exclusive  emoluments  from  the  community,'  it 
would  be  something  which  was  paid  for  by  this  community  since  the  revolu- 
tion;  whereas  the  community  gave  no  emolument  or  new  grant  to  the 
Church  ;  it  only  confirmed  to  her  what  from  the  beginning  was  her's,  and  has 
ever  since  been  in  her  possession.  Most  of  the  Glebes  were  purchased  and 
paid  for  one  hundred  years  before  the  revolution ;  and  in  many  counties, 
from  the  frequent  migrations  to  the  western  country  and  to  other  States,  it  is 
very  questionable  whether  there  be  one  third  of  the  inhabitants  remaining 
whose  ancestors  paid  for  the  purchase  of  a  Glebe.  So  that  if  they  petition 
for  the  sale  of  them  because  their  ancestors  paid  for  them,  it  will  be  very 
difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  find  out  to  whom  the  money  is  now  owing.  If 
they  say  that  the  Country  or  the  State  first  purchased  them,  and  that  they 
are  to  be  given  back  to  the  Country  or  State,  then  it  should  be  remembered 
that  the  State  has  already  pledged  its  legislative  faith,  that  they  shall,  '  in  all 
time  coming,'  remain  to  the  use  of  one  religious  society,  according  to  the 


1*78  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

intention  for  which  they  were  originally  given.  And  for  the  State  to  take 
back  what  it  once  gave,  would  be  fully  as  unjust  as  for  one  individual  to  take 
back  what  he  formerly  made  over  to  another. 

"  But  it  is  unfortunate  for  them,  that  this  article  which  they  quote  has^  not, 
I  think,  the  smallest  allusion  to  the  point  in  dispute.  Its  intention  is  to' 
prevent  hereditary  honours,  offices,  or  emoluments  in  the  civil  government. 
This  the  connection  of  the  whole  Article  makes  plain — '  That  no  man  or  set 
of  men  are  entitled  to  exclusive  or  separate  emoluments  or  privileges  from  the 
community,  but  in  consideration  of  publick  services;  which,  not  being 
descendible,  neither  ought  the  offices  of  magistrate,  legislator,  or  judge,  to  be 
hereditary.' 

"Influenced  by  these  and  arguments  of  a  similar  kind,  the  House  of 
Delegates  have  hitherto  negatived  the  prayer  of  the  Memorial  and  Petition 
offered  by  the  Baptists.     But  an  attempt  is  now  made  to  sell  the  Glebe  lands 

belonging  to  this  Parish,  by  a  petition  from  the  county ,  which  will 

soon  be  circulated  for  this  purpose,  in  order  to  procure  as  many  subscribers  as 
possible. 

"  In  relation  to  the  sale  of  this  Glebe  in  particular,  permit  me  to  observe  a 
few  things. 

"  This  Petition,  therefore,  for  the  sale  of  the  Glebe  in  this  Parish,  or  in 
any  other  Parish,  let  it  be  signed  by  ever  so  many,  will  certainly  be  opposed 
in  the  House  of  Delegates,  and  I  am  confident  will  be  rejected  by  a  consider- 
able majority,  for  it  involves  the  main  question  for  the  sale  of  all  the  Glebes 
in  the  State.  The  Vestry  of  this  Parish  hold  their  glebe  lands  by  the  very 
same  right  as  all  other  Glebes  in  the  State  are  held  ;  and  if  the  law  is  violated 
in  one  instance,  it  may  be  so  in  twenty. 

"  It  is  true  there  have  been  several  Glebes  sold  by  Act  of  Assembly,  and 
the  money  applied  to  a  different  purpose  ;  but  it  has  been  in  such  Parishes 
only  where  there  was  no  minister  or  vestry,  or  for  some  other  weighty  rea- 
sons. But  that  a  Glebe  should  be  sold  while  it  was  occupied  by  a  Minister,  or 
that  a  petition  should  be  presented  for  such  a  purpose,  I  know  of  no  instance 
in  Virginia. 

"  But,  behold,  here  is  a  petition  brought  forward  for  the  sale  of  the  Glebe 
which  I  occupy  ;  a  Glebe  which  I  procured  neither  by  intrigue  nor  by  stealth, 
but  honestly  and  openly,  and  on  which  I  have  lived  without  interruption  for 
several  years.  And  what  is  it  now  that  I  have  done,  that  I  should  be 
compelled  to  give  up  the  privileges  I  have  hitherto  enjoyed?  Have  I  taken 
a  sixpence  from  any  man  by  fraud  or  by  oppression  ?  Have  I  told  lies  ?  Am 
I  guilty  of  robbery,  drunkenness,  or  murder  ?  Or  what  black  and  enormous 
crime  am  I  to  be  charged  with,  that  I  should  forfeit  the  rights  of  a  citizen  ? 
On  the  contrary,  has  not  my  manner  of  life,  since  I  came  among  you,  been 
sufficiently  known  ?  I  am  not  ignorant  that  on  several  occasions  reports  have 
been  whispered  prejudicial  to  my  character.  But  I  challenge  any  man  to 
step  forth,  if  he  dare,  and  say  anything  in  any  company,  and  before  my 
face,  which  an  honest  man  would  blush  to  own.  In  the  discharge  of  my 
office  I  have  industriously  avoided  all  subjects  of  a  controversial  and  inflam- 
matory nature,  though  at  the  same  time  I  have  used  all  freedom  in  delivering 
my  own  sentiments, — a  privilege  I  always  will  exercise.  For  as  I  know  not, 
so  I  care  not,  to  dissemble.  I  value  the  approbation  of  mine  own  mind  more 
than  that  of  all  mankind. 


Address  on  the  Sale  of  Glebes,  1795.  179 

"  The  friends  of  this  petition  are  very  confident  of  having  a  great  majority 
of  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  this  county  as  subscribers.  I 
shall  not  attempt  to  undeceive  them.  It  is  very  probable  they  will.  But  of 
the  unprejudiced,  of  those  who  are  averse  from  contention  and  discord,  of  the 
well-informed  and  peaceable,  I  hope  they  will  have  very  few.  The  promoters 
of  it  also  do  everything  they  can  to  make  it  interest  and  agitate  the  minds  of 
the  people  at  large.  But  in  fact,  it  is  a  matter  of  no  such  high  concernment. 
It  is  a  matter  of  small  consequence  to  the  county  whether  the  Glebe  be  sold 
or  not.  They,  however,  have  their  own  views.  They  know  that  as  long  as 
they  are  the  heroes  of  the  day  they  will  not  be  forgotten.  But  if  they  are 
truly  patriots ;  if  they  wish  to  promote  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  their 
county,  let  them  abet  no  partial  and  party  schemes,  and  gratify  one  part  of 
its  inhabitants  at  the  expense  of  the  other  ;  but  let  them  devise  some  plan 
equally  beneficial  to  the  whole  ;  let  them  introduce  among  us  manufacturers, 
or  open  to  us  channels  by  which  we  can  more  easily  find  a  market  for  the 
commodities  we  now  have  to  spare.  These,  and  such  like,  are  objects  more 
worthy  the  attention  of  Friends  to  the  People,  and  would  confer  on  them 
more  deserved  and  more  lasting  popularity. 

"Those  who  favour  this  plan  should  also  consider,  that  no  material  advan- 
tage can  be  derived  from  the  sale  of  the  Glebe,  either  to  themselves  or  to 
others.  You  think,  perhaps,  it  would  annihilate  the  Church.  If  it  should, 
would  that  be  of  any  advantage  to  you  ?  or  would  you  wish  to  give  power 
to  one  denomination  of  Christians  to  trample  upon  another?  They  will  next 
trample  upon  yourselves.  Although  the  Baptists  are  the  most  numerous  sect 
in  this  county  at  present,  they  may  not  be  so  always.  We  find  that  first  one 
sect  has  its  day,  and  then  another.  In  short,  there  can  be  nothing  more 
variable  and  fluctuating  than  the  state  of  religious  sects  with  regard  to 
decadency  or  increase.  And  in  this  county,  it  is  a  truth  too  plain  and  too 
lamentable,  that,  notwithstanding  the  number  of  preachers,  there  is  not  one 
half  of  the  people  at  large  who  are  in  church  communion  with  any  denomi- 
nation of  Christians.  They  have  joined  no  church.  They  attend  regularly 
at  no  place  of  publick  worship,  and  generally  are  very  indifferent  with  regard 
to  religious  affairs.  To  these  people  it  is  a  matter  of  no  concern  whether  the 
Glebe  be  sold  or  not.  They  will,  wdien  asked,  give  their  voices  for  it  or 
against  it,  according  to  the  prevailing  opinion  in  the  company  where  they 
may  be,  or  in  the  neighbourhoods  where  they  live. 

"  You,  however,  wTho  have  the  smallest  concern  for  the  interests  of  religion 
in  general  and  the  peace  and  happiness  of  our  county,  but  more  particularly 
all  freeholders  who  have  a  respect  for  the  constitution  and  laws  of  our 
country,  and  are  unbiassed  by  party  views,  I  would  have  seriously  consider 
and  think  what  you  are  called  upon  to  do,  when  you  are  solicited  to  sign 
these  petitions  for  the  sale  of  the  Glebe.  You  are  called  upon  to  give  your 
voice  for  taking  away  from  one  religious  society  the  property  they  have 
always  possessed,  and  that  without  an  equivalent,  and  deprive  a  fellow-citizen, 
myself,  of  his  just  rights,  who  has  had  no  other  object  in  view  than  to 
promote  your  dearest  interests.  This  appears  so  iniquitous  and  unjust,  so 
arbitrary  and  persecuting,  that  I  have  no  doubt  it  partly  excites  your 
righteous  indignation  as  well  as  mine. 

"I  have  lived  on  the  Glebe  since  I  have  been  Minister  of  the  Parish,  and 


180  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

most  of  what  I  have  received  for  my  services  has  been  expended  in  repairing 
and  improving  the  plantation.  These  repairs  have  been  of  considerable  value, 
and  though  my  word,  I  expect,  will  not  be  doubted  by  any  person  present, 
yet  I  wish  none  to  take  it  upon  that  authority  alone;  I  am  willing  to 
submit  their  value  to  the  determination  of  a  jury.  And  if  the  Glebe  is  sold, 
I  shall  thus  have  expended  the  little  I  had  to  spare  for  the  publick,  to  whom, 
when  divided  among  them,  it  will  be  little  more  than  nothing. 

"  For  if  the  Glebe  were  sold,  what  would  it  be  to  the  whole  county  ?  It 
would  fetch  little  more  than  £200,  perhaps  not  so  much  in  ready  money. 
This  would  not  pay  half  your  County  and  Parish  levies  for  one  year.  Indeed, 
the  proportion  which  would  fall  to  the  share  of  every  man  is  too  insignificant, 
and  not  worth  the  attention  of  any  freeholder  whatever.  And,  therefore,  to 
agitate  and  inflame  the  public  mind  concerning  a  matter  of  so  trivial  impor- 
tance to  the  county  at  large,  must  be  done  with  no  other  end  than  to  gratify 
the  wishes  of  a  party,  or  to  promote  selfish  and  particular  views. 

"  The  Baptists  say  they  do  not  petition  for  the  sale  of  the  Glebes  on 
account  of  their  value.  Neither  need  we  wish  to  hold  them  on  account  of 
their  value,  but  as  a  matter  of  right.  The  one  I  occupy  has  hitherto  brought 
me  every  year  into  debt,  authentic  accounts  of  which  I  can  at  any  time 
produce.  If  the  law,  however,  which  vests  the  Glebes  in  us  be  unconstitu- 
tional and  oppressive,  if  it  be  contrary  to  the  principles  pervading  Republican 
Governments  and  free  States,  for  God's  sake  let  it  be  repealed.  But  if  it  is 
not ;  if  the  law  is  constitutional ;  if  it  secures  rights  which  we  hold  dear  as 
life  and  liberty  itself;  if  it  is  wished  to  be  repealed  to  gratify  the  views  of 
one  religious  sect,  then  let  it  stand  fast  as  the  pillars  of  justice,  and  secure 
not  only  to  us  the  rights  which  we  presently  enjoy,  but  to  our  posterity  for 

ever. 

"  To  the  preachers,  and  other  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  who  are 
zealous  in  promoting  this  Petition,  I  would  take  the  liberty  of  observing,  that 
as  this,  at  best,  is  but  a  circumstance  of  a  political  nature,  it  seems  not  with 
any  propriety  to  come  so  particularly  under  the  cognizance  of  those  who 
labour  in  the  vineyard  of  Christ.  Ministers,  to  be  sure,  are  men ;  and  they 
have  civil  rights  to  defend ;  but  this  dispute  is  too  nearly  connected  with 
religion  not  to  partake  of  much  of  that  animosity  and  rancour  which  are  the 
unhappy  effects  of  religious  controversy.  How  different  is  this  from  the 
mild  spirit  of  that  religion  which  breathes  unanimity,  forgiveness,  meekness, 
and  peace!  When  we  ourselves  make  it  appear  by  our  conduct,  that 
Christianity  has  so  little  power  over  our  hearts,  can  it  be  supposed  that  ever 
we  will  recommend  it  to  the  esteem  of  others  ?  The  infidel  will  never  believe 
us,  and  the  libertine  will  get  confirmed  in  his  vicious  practices.  Alas  !  we 
pull  down  with  our  own  hands  that  Church  of  Christ  which  we  ought  to 
build  up  and  defend.  We  fill  the  minds  of  the  community,  moreover,  with 
*  wrath,  hatred,  and  emulations,  envyings,  and  strife.'  How  long  shall  it  be 
before  the  doctrines  of  the  Son  of  God  have  full  influence  on  the  minds  of 
men !  How  long  shall  this  land,  the  asylum  of  all  nations,  be  filled  with 
contention  ?  When  shall  we  fully  prize  the  blessings  we  enjoy  ?  We  might 
now  sit  every  man  at  peace  'under  his  own  vine,  and  under  that  fair  Tree  of 
Liberty  which  we  planted.'  But,  alas  !  the  canker-worm  of  Jealousy  feeds  on 
its  foliage ;  the  whirlwinds  of  discord  threaten  to  root  it  out  for. ever. 


Address  on  the  Sale  of  Glebes,  1165.  181 

"  On  you,  however,  who  are  attached  to  this  Church,  and  who  in  your 
respective  neighbourhoods  must  have  some  influence,  I  must  place  my  sole 
dependence  for  obviating  the  efforts  which  are  now  making  to  ruin  your 
Church  ;  and  particularly  that  you  will  be  industrious  in  procuring  as  many 
subscribers  as  possible  to  the  remonstrances  which  I  shall  put  into  your  hands. 
The  issue  of  the  affair  will  not  depend  on  the  number  of  subscribers,  though 
it  may  be  materially  affected  by  it.  For  me  to  take  an  active  part,  farther 
than  by  endeavouring  to  set  it  in  a  fair  and  just  light  before  the  public  mmd, 
would  be  indelicate  and  improper.  This  is  not  so  much  my  business  as 
yours  And  unless  strenuous  exertions  are  now  made,  the  event  may  be  very 
unfortunate  for  your  Church.  If  the  Glebe  is  sold,  it  will  affect  neither  my 
reputation  nor  my  property ;  but  if  it  is,  the  church  in  this  Parish,  and  in  a 
great  many  others  in  Virginia,  will  well  nigh  be  ruined.  Yes,  that  Church 
which  I  believe  in  my  confidence  to  be  as  pure  as  any  at  this  day  on  earth, 
will  be  left  without  a  vestige  of  her  memory  in  the  land.  She  will  fall,  as  a 
bright  star  from  heaven,  and  be  lost  in  perpetual  night.  Unfortunate  she  ! 
she°has  '  nourished  and  brought  up  children,  and  they  have  rebelled  against 
her.'  Like  the  sun  in  an  unclouded  sky,  she  was  once  the  light  and  glory  of 
this  land;  and  shall  she  set  in  darkness  and  rise  no  more?  Forbid  it, 
heaven  !  forbid  it,  justice  :  forbid  it,  honour. 

"  I  myself,  whilst  holding  the  station  which  I  possess,  will,  I  trust,  discharge 
my  duty  with  fidelity.  If  we  are  all  united  and  act  in  concert,  the  effect  we 
can  produce  will  be  considerable.  Adversity  is  the  fire  which  purifieth  the 
Church.  Through  many  such  she  hath  passed,  and  ours  when  tried  in  that 
furnace  will  come  forth  still  more  pure.  That  at  the  present  crisis  you  may 
act  your  parts  with  firmness  as  her  friends,  having  due  regard  at  the_  same 
time  to  the  Christian  character,  is  my  earnest  recommendation.  Providence 
will  thus  smile  on  our  labours,  and  conduct  them  at  length  to  a  happy  issue. 
Conscience  will  approve  of  our  conduct;  and  death  will  introduce  us  to 
glory. 

"  Antrim  Glebe,  Halifax,  June  4th,  1795." 


MR.  HENDERSON  WALKER 


LORD   BISHOP    OF   LONDON. 


"  May  it  please  your  Lordship 


"  North  Carolina,  21st  October,  1703. 


"  The  great  and  pious  designs  of  your  Lordship  towards 
these  American  Parts  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Christian  Church,  of  which 
you  are  so  pious  and  good  a  Pillar,  imboldens  me  to  lay  before  your  Lordship 
the  present  State  of  North  Carolina  as  to  their  Christian  well-being ;  and  I 
was  the  more  encouraged  to  do  it  by  reason  that  our  Lords  Proprietors  were 
pleased  to  write  to  us  concerning  Mr.  Bray,  your  Lordship's  Commissary, 
coming  to  visit  us. 

"  My  Lord,  we  have  been  settled  neer  this  fifty  years  in  this  place,  and  I 
may  justly  say  most  part  of  twenty-one  years  on  my  own  knowledge  without 
Priest  or  Altar,  and  before  that  time,  according  to  all  that  appears  to  me, 
much  worse.  George  Fox  some  years  ago  came  into  these  parts,  and  by 
strange  infatuations  did  infuse  the  Quakers'  Principles  into  some  small  number 
of  the  people,  which  did  and  hath  continued  to  grow  ever  since  very  numerous 
by  reason  of  their  yearly  sending  in  men  to  encourage  and  exhort  them  to 
their  wicked  principles ;  and  here  was  none  to  dispute  nor  to  oppose  them  in 
carrying  on  their  pernicious  principles  for  many  years,  till  God  of  his  infinite 
goodness  was  pleased  to  inspire  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bray  some  time  about  four  years 
ago  to  send  in  some  books  of  his  own  particular  pious  gift  of  the  explanation 
of  the  Church  Catechism,  with  some  other  small  books  to  be  disposed  of  and 
lent  as  we  thought  fit,  did  in  some  measure  put  a  stop  to  their  growth ;  and 
about  a  year  after  did  send  to  us  a  library  of  books  for  the  benefit  of  this 
place,  given  by  the  honourable  the  Corporation  for  the  establishing  of  the 
Christian  religion,  by  one  Mr.  Daniel  Bret,  a  minister  appointed  for  this  place. 
He  for  about  half  a  year  behaved  himself  in  a  modest  manner,  but  after  that 
in  a  most  horrid  manner ;  broke  out  in  such  an  extravagant  course  that  I 
am  ashamed  to  express  his  carraige,  it  being  in  so  high  nature.  It  hath  been 
a  great  trouble  and  grief  to  us  who  have  a  great  veneration  for  the  Church 
that  the  first  minister  that  was  sent  to  us  should  prove  so  ill  as  to  give 
the  Dissenters  so  much  occasion  to  charge  us  with  him.  My  Lord,  I  humbly 
begg  you  to  believe  that  we  do  not  think  that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bray  knew  any 
thing  of  the  life  and  conversations  of  the  man.  We  did  about  this  time  two 
years,  with  a  great  deal  of  care  and  management,  get  an  Assembly,  and  we 


North   Carolina  in  1703.  183 

passed  an  act  for  building  of  churches  and  establishing  a  maintenance  for  a 
minister  amongst  us,  and  in  pursuance  thereto  we  have  built  one  church,  and 
there  is  two  more  a  going  forward,  and  his  Excellency  Francis  Nicholson, 
Esq.,  Governor  of  Virginia,  was  pleased  of  his  pious  goodness  to  give  us  £10 
to  each  church,  and  we  sent  copies  of  that  act  of  Assembly  to  our  Lords 
proprietors  to  get  the  same  ratified,  and  likewise  a  copy  to  Dr.  Bray  to 
entreat  his  favour  with  them  to  obtain  a  Ratification,  which  we  are  in  hopes 
to  obtain  this  shipping,  but  they  not  being  come  we  are  in  a  great  loss.  ^  My 
Lord,  I  humbly  beg  leave  to  inform  you  that  we  have  an  Assembly  to  sit  the 
3d  November  next,  and  there  is  above  one  half  of  the  Burgesses  that  are 
chosen  are  Quakers  and  have  declared  their  designs  of  making  void  the  act 
for  establishing  the  Church ;  if  your  Lordship  out  of  your  good  and  pious 
care  of  us  doth  not  put  a  stop  to  their  growth,  we  shall  the  most  part, 
especially  the  children  born  here,  become  heathens.  I  humbly  entreat  your 
Lordship  to  send  some  worthy  good  man  amongst  us  to  regain  the  Flock,  and 
so  perfect  us  in  our  duty  to  God,  and  establish  us  by  his  Doctrine,  life,  and 
conversation  in  the  fundamentalls  of  our  Christian  profession  that  we  in  our 
time  and  those  as  come  hereafter,  may  bless  God  that  he  has  raised  up  so 
noble  a  pillar  as  your  Lordship  to  regain  those  who  are  going  astray,  and  put 
a  stop  to  the  pernicious  growing  Principles  of  the  Quakers. 

"  Your  Lordship  may  see  the  copy  of  our  act  by  Dr.  Bray,  and  I  humbly 
beo-  your  Lordship's  Pardon  for  giving  you  this  trouble,  and  take  leave  to 
subscribe  myself, 

"My  Lord, 

"  Your  most  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

"Henderson  Walker" 


AN    ACCOUNT 

OF 

ME  .    BLAIR'S    MISSION 

TO  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


"I  was  ordained  in  order  to  go  to  the  Plantations  12th  April,  1703,  and 
then  received  the  Queen's  Bounty  of  £20,  aud  soon  after  my  Lord  Wey- 
mouth's bounty  of  £50,  upon  which  I  lived  in  England  till  the  1st  October 
following,  which  together  with  my  fitting  out  for  such  a  Voyage  and  Country 
consumed  the  most  part  of  my  money.  I  had  likewise  £5  sent  me  by  my 
Lord  of  London  to  Portsmouth,  and  when  I  landed  in  Virginia,  I  had  no 
more  than  £25. 

_  "I  landed  in  Virginia  14th  January,  1703.  As  soon  as  I  could  conve- 
niently travel,  I  waited  on  the  Governor,  and  immediately  after  made  the  best 
of  my  way  into  the  country  where  I  was  bound. 

"  I  arrived  amongst  the  Inhabitants  after  a  tedious  and  troublesome  journey 
on  the  24th.  I  was  then  obliged  to  buy  a  couple  of  Horses,  which  cost  me 
fourteen  pounds,  one  of  which  was  for  a  guide,  because  there  is  no  possibility 
for  a  stranger  to  find  his  Road  in  that  Country,  for  if  he  once  goes  astray  (it 
being  such  a  Desart  country)  it's  a  hazard  if  ever  he  finds  his  Road  again. 
Besides  there  are  mighty  inconveniences  in  travelling  there,  for  the  roads  are 
not  only  deep  and  difficult  to  be  found,  but  there  are  likewise  seven  great 
Rivers  in  the  country,  over  which  there  is  no  passing  with  horses,  except  two 
of  them,  one  of  which  the  Quakers  have  settled  a  Ferry  over  for  their  own 
conveniency,  and  nobody  but  themselves  have  the  Priviledge  of  it,  so  that  at 
the  passing  over  the  Rivers,  I  was  obliged  either  to  borrow  or  hire  Horses, 
which  was  both  troublesome  and  chargeable,  insomuch  that  in  little  more  than 
two  months  I  was  obliged  to  dispose  of  the  necessaries  I  carried  over  for  my 
own  use  to  satisfy  my  creditors. 

"  I  found  in  the  Country  a  great  many  children  to  be  baptized,  where  I 
baptized  about  one  hundred,  and  there  are  a  great  many  still  to  be  baptized, 
whose  parents  would  not  condescend  to  have  them  Baptized  with  Godfathers 
and  Godmothers. 

"  I  married  none  in  the  Country,  for  that  was  a  Perquisite  belonged  to  the 
Magistrates  which  I  was  not  desirous  to  deprive  them  of. 

"  I  preached  twice  every  Sunday,  and  often  on  the  week  days  when  their 
Vestries  met,  or  could  appoint  them  to  bring  their  Children  to  be  baptized. 


North   Carolina  in  1703.  185 

"  I  called  a  Vestry  in  each  Precinct,  in  my  first  progress  through  the 
country,  to  whom  I  gave  an  Account  of  my  Lord  Weymouth's  charitable 
bounty,  in  supporting  my  Mission  among  them,  and  likewise  of  the  good 
designs  the  honourable  Society  had  for  them,  as  I  was  informed  by  Mr.  Amy 
that  they  had  settled  £80  per  annum  for  the  maintenance  of  two  Clergymen 
amongst  them.  And  likewise  a  proposal  that  Dr.  Bray  desired  me  to"  make 
to  them  upon  their  procuring  good  Glebes  he  doubted  not  but  that  there 
might  be  a  settlement  made  for  the  advantage  of  the  Church,  such  as  there 
is  in  the  Island  of  Bermudas,  viz.  two  Slaves  and  a  small  Stock  in  each  Pre- 
cinct, and  that  to  be  continued  good  by  the  Incumbent  to  his  successor,  which 
will  be  a  lasting  Estate  to  the  Church. 

"  They  have  built  in  the  Country  three  small  Churches  and  have  three 
Glebes. 

"In  the  three  Chief  Precincts  there  is  a  Reader  establisht  in  each,  to 
whom  they  allow  a  small  salary,  who  reads  Morning  and  Evening  Prayer 
every  Lord's  Day,  with  two  Sermons,  and  I  took  care  to  furnish  them  with 
books  from  the  Library  before  I  came  away. 

"  I  remained  very  well  satisfied  in  the  Country  till  their  Assembly  sat, 
which  was  on  1st  March,  where  I  expected  they  would  propose  a  settlement 
for  my  maintenance ;  and  they  taking  no  care  of  it,  together  with  my  then 
circumstances,  which  were  but  very  indifferent,  Discouraged  me  very  much, 
and  occasioned  my  first  thoughts  of  returning  to  England,  for  I  was  informed 
before  I  went  thither  that  there  was  £30  per  annum  settled  by  Law  to  be 
paid  in  each  Precinct  for  the  Maintenance  of  a  Minister,  which  Law  was  sent 
over  hither  to  be  confirmed  by  their  Lords  proprietors ;  and  it  being  sup- 
posed not  to  be  a  competency  for  a  Minister  to  live  on,  was  sent  back  again 
without  Confirmation,  whereof  the  Quakers  took  the  advantage,  and  will  endea- 
vour to  prevent  any  such  Law  passing  for  the  future ;  for  they  are  the  greatest 
number  in  the  Assembly,  and  are  unanimous,  and  stand  truly  to  one  another 
in  whatsoever  may  be  for  their  Interest,  for  the  Country  may  be  divided  into 
four  sorts  of  people  :  1st,  the  Quakers,  who  are  the  most  powerful  enemies  to 
Church  Government,  but  a  people  very  ignorant  of  what  they  profess  ;  2d 
sort  are  a  great  many  that  have  no  Religion,  but  would  be  Quakers  if  by  that 
they  were  not  obliged  to  lead  a  more  moral  life  than  they  are  willino-  to 
comply  to;  a  3d  sort  are  something  like  Presbyterians,  which  sort  is  upheld 
by  some  idle  Fellows  that  have  left  their  lawful  Imployment  and  preach  and 
baptize  through  the  country  without  any  manner  of  orders  from  any  sect  or 
pretended  Church.  A  4th  sort,  who  are  really  zealous  for  the  Interest  of  the 
Church,  are  the  fewest  in  number,  but  the  better  sort  of  people,  and  would 
do  very  much  for  the  settlement  of  Church  Government  there,  if  not  opposed 
by  these  three  Precedent  Sects,  and  although  they  be  all  three  of  different 
pretensions,  yet  they  all  concur  together  in  one  common  cause  to  prevent 
anything  that  will  be  chargeable  to  them,  as  they  allege  Church  Government 
will  be  if  once  establisht  by  Law ;  and  another  great  discouragement  these 
poor  people  have  is  a  Governor  who  does  not  in  the  least  countenance  them 
in  this  Business,  but  rather  discourage  them. 

"Finding  it  impossible  to  travel  through  the  Country  at  that  rate  I  begun, 
I  was  resolved  to  settle  in  one  precinct,  but  the  people  all  alledging  my 
Lord  Weymouth's  Charity  was  universally  designed  for  the  whole  country, 


186  Protestant  Episcopal  Historical  Collections. 

would  not  consent  to  it,  which  bred  some  disturbance  amongst  them,  upon 
which  I  was  advised  by  some  of  the  best  friends  of  the  Church  to  come  over 
and  represent  their  condition  to  the  Honourable  Society,  not  only  of  their 
want  of  Ministers,  but  likewise  of  Inhabitants  to  maintain  them  ;  and  their 
desires,  they  complying  with  my  necessities,  was  a  powerful  argument,  consi- 
dering I  was  then  reduced  to  my  last  stake,  and  knew  not  where  and  upon 
what  account  to  be  further  supplied.  Besides  such  a  solitary,  toylsome,  and 
hard  living  as  I  met  with  there,  were  very  sufficient  discouragement.  I  was 
distant  from  any  Minister  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  so  that  if  any 
case  of  difficulty  or  doubt  should  happen,  with  whom  should  I  consult  ? 
And  for  my  travelling  through  the  Country,  I  rid  one  day  with  another, 
Sunday  only  Excepted,  above  thirty  miles  per  diem  in  the  worst  roads  that 
ever  I  saw,  and  have  sometimes  layn  whole  nights  in  the  woods. 

"I  will  now  endeavour  to  shew  you  how  ineffectual  a  single  Man's  labours 
would  be  amongst  so  scattered  a  people.  In  the  first  place,  suppose  him 
Minister  of  one  precinct  (whereas  there  are  five  in  the  Country),  and  this 
precinct  as  they  are  all,  bounded  with  two  Rivers,  and  those  Rivers  at  least 
twenty  miles  distant,  without  any  inhabitants  on  the  Road,  for  they  plant 
only  on  the  Rivers,  and  they  are  planted  in  length  upon  these  Rivers  at  least 
twenty  miles.  And  to  give  all  these  Inhabitants  an  opportunity  of  hearing  a 
Sermon,  and  bringing  their  Children  to  be  baptized,  which  must  be  on  the 
Sabbath,  for  they  want  spare  time  of  another  day,  and  must  be  in  every  ten 
miles  distance,  for  five  miles  is  farthest  that  they  will  bring  their  children  or 
willingly  come  themselves,  so  that  he  must,  to  do  his  duty  effectually,  be  ten 
or  twelve  weeks  in  making  his  progress  through  one  precinct. 

"  You  may  also  consider  the  distance  that  the  New  Colony  of  Pamtico  is 
from  the  rest  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  country,  for  any  Man  that  has  tried 
it,  would  sooner  undertake  a  voyage  from  this  City  to  Holland  than  that,  for 
besides  a  Pond  of  five  miles  broad  and  nothing  to  carry  one  over  but  small 
Perriaugers,  there  are  about  fifty  miles  Desert  to  pass  through  without  any 
human  creature  Inhabiting  in  it.  I  think  it  likewise  reasonable  to  give  you 
an  Account  of  a  Great  Nation  of  Indians  that  live  in  that  Government  com- 
puted to  be  of  no  less  than  100,000,  many  of  which  live  amongst  the  Eng- 
lish, and  all  as  I  can  understand  a  very  civilized  people. 
p;"I  have  often  conversed  with  them,  and  have  been  frequently  in  their 
towns.  Those  that  can  speak  English  among  them  seem  to  be  very  willing 
and  fond  of  being  Christians,  and  in  my  opinion  there  might  be  methods 
taken  to  bring  over  a  great  many  of  them.  If  there  was  no  hopes  of  making 
them  Christians,  the  advantage  of  having  Missionaries  among  them  would 
redound  to  the  Advantage  of  the  Government,  for  if  they  should  once  be 
brought  over  to  a  French  Interest  (as  we  have  too  much  reason  to  believe 
there  are  some  promoters  amongst  them  for  that  end)  by  their  late  Actions  ; 
it  would  be  (if  not  to  the  utter  ruin)  to  the  great  prejudice  of  all  the  English 
Plantations  on  the  Continent  of  America. 

"  I  have  here  in  brief  set  down  what  I  have  to  say,  and  shall  be  ready  to 
answer  to  any  Questions  the  Honourable  Society  shall  think  convenient  to  ask 
me  concerning  the  Country,  and  shall  be  both  ready  and  willing  to  serve  them 
anywhere  upon  such  encouragement  as  I  can  live  according  to  my  education, 
after  my  Lord  Weymouth  ceases  to  lay  his  commands  on  me. 


North  Carolina  in  1703.  187 

"  I  have  made  a  considerable  losing  voyage  of  it  this  time,  both  by 
my  troublesome  travelling  in  America  and  likewise  by  being  taken  into 
France,  where  I  was  prisoner  of  war  nine  weeks,  and  was  forced  to  make  use 
of  my  credit  for  my  sustenance,  and  have  lived  in  the  same  circumstances 
since  I  came  to  England,  without  any  manner  of  relief,  which  has  been  very 
troublesome  to  me,  all  which  has  brought  me  considerably  in  debt,  near  £35, 
and  now  in  no  way  to  pay  it,  without  my  charitable  Benefactor  or  the 
Honourable  Society  judge  my  labours  worthy  a  reward." 


